'We are not sure if they are even still at the mine. They might have come out. Nobody knows. They might be too scared to tell us that they are around.'
Elliot said the only area they did not enter had dangerous conditions."There are small rockfalls all the time - it is continuing falling. It is where the explosion was. When it has calmed down, we will go and search the area for people," he said.
The death toll at the mine currently stands at 18. Police estimate that about 22 people were underground. "We are not sure if they are even still at the mine. They might have come out. Nobody knows. They might be too scared to tell us that they are around," said Elliot. Some of those trapped underground were allegedly involved in stripping the non-operational mine of copper cables when the explosion occurred. Others went down the shaft after the blast in a bid to rescue those who had been trapped.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said 16 of the deceased had been identified by their next of kin as citizens of Lesotho. One of them was South African.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Moody’s calls for details of credible Eskom rescue planThe ratings agency also warns of trends indicative of the deterioration of public finances
Read more »
Basil Read says it needs more funding to surviveThe company’s lenders forced it into business rescue in 2018
Read more »
Molefe blamed for Eskom’s coal supply woes | News | National | M&GFormer Eskom CEO Brian Molefe “stonewalled” Optimum coal mine in its efforts to negotiate an agreement that would secure its coal supply to the ailing utility’s Hendrina power station, the StateCaptureInquiry heard on Wednesday.
Read more »
Hit and run suspect hands himself into the policeSAPS Search and Rescue Team searched for the head of the deceased on Sunday and found it on Tuesday.
Read more »
Mom of 'stormwater baby' appears anxious before bail applicationA Durban woman accused of discarding her newborn down a stormwater drain is expected to make a bid for bail in the Ntuzuma Magistrate's court on Wednesday.
Read more »