South Africa
In South Africa’s eastern province of Mpumalanga, the number of people killed by a gas explosion in an unused coal mine as risen to six, as several others remain trapped.
The representative of the creditor protection team at the mine, Michael Elliot told Reuters that over 20 people are still stuck underground and are presumed dead.
“We received a WhatsApp (message) from the community to say to us that 22 of the people in the community are missing. We came out to the mine and we were informed that the community thought there was an explosion underground. We checked the fence and we found out that the blast doors had been blown off, which is an indicator that there had been an explosion, and we immediately commenced recovery and rescue operations”, he said.
Elliot also told Reuters that he had been informed six deceased people have been take to the mortuary.
Rescue efforts were hampered by dangerously high levels of toxic gas underground, he said.
Several people had entered the mine on Wednesday afternoon to steal copper wires that supply electricity for lightning and ventilation when a gas pipe exploded, police said.
The mine is owned by Tegeta Resources and Exploration, an undergoing creditor protection after its owners, the Gupta brothers discontinued doing business in South Africa over corrupt allegations.
Reuters
01:35
UN and Haitian officials mark one year since Kenyan police arrived to support security efforts
Go to video
African gut study reveals urbanization threatens microbial diversity
Go to video
Families grapple with life in the wake of the Israel-Iran Conflict
01:54
South Africa's independent mechanics join forces to compete with big companies
01:48
South Africa launches vaccination drive to combat foot-and-mouth disease outbreak