Elevator drop at platinum mine in South Africa kills 11 workers, injures 75
A mine operator says an elevator suddenly dropped approximately 200 meters (656 feet) while carrying workers to the surface in a platinum mine in South Africa, killing 11 and injuring 75
ByThe Associated Press
November 28, 2023, 2:39 AM
JOHANNESBURG — An elevator suddenly dropped around 200 meters (656 feet) while carrying workers to the surface in a platinum mine in South Africa, killing 11 and injuring 75, the mine operator said Tuesday.
It happened Monday evening at the end of the workers' shift at a mine in the northern city of Rustenburg. The injured workers were hospitalized.
Impala Platinum Holdings (Implats) CEO Nico Muller said in a statement it was “the darkest day in the history of Implats.” It said an investigation had already begun into what caused the elevator to drop and the mine had suspended all operations on Tuesday.
All 86 mine workers killed or injured were in the elevator, Implats spokesperson Johan Theron said. Some of the injured had “serious compact fractures,” he said. Theron said the elevator dropped approximately 200 meters down the shaft, although that was only an early estimate. He said it was a highly unusual accident.
South Africa is the world's largest producer of platinum.
The country had 49 fatalities from all mining accidents in 2022, a decrease from 74 the year before. Deaths from South African mining accidents have steadily decreased in the last two decades from nearly 300 in the year 2000, according to South African government figures.
___
AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
News Related-
Madagascar's main opposition candidate files a lawsuit claiming fraud in the presidential election
-
UK government reaches a pay deal with senior doctors that could end disruptive strikes
-
Poland's president swears in a government expected to last no longer than 14 days
-
Hiam Abbass' Palestinian family documentary 'Bye Bye Tiberias' applauded at Marrakech Film Festival
-
Putin signs Russia's largest national budget, bolstering military spending
-
The spokesman for Qatar's Foreign Ministry says Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend truce for two more days
-
Pope Francis getting antibiotics for lung problem, limiting appointments: Vatican
-
Tesla sues Swedish agency as striking workers stop delivering license plates for its new vehicles
-
Live updates | Israel-Hamas truce will be extended for 2 more days, Qatar says
-
Puerto Rico opposition party to hold gubernatorial primary
-
Beijing police investigate major Chinese shadow bank Zhongzhi after it says it's insolvent
-
Wilders ally overseeing first stage of Dutch coalition-building quits over fraud allegation
-
Central European interior ministers agree to step up fight against illegal migration at EU borders
-
Czech labor unions stage a day of action in protest at spending cuts and taxes