LOW’S CREEK – The miners entombed under tons of fallen rock at Lily Mine could still live to tell the tale of their horrifying ordeal.
By yesterday morning, indications were that at least one of the three miners who were trapped 80 metres below the ground after a container they were in disappeared down a sinkhole at Lily Mine, was still alive.
At the time of going to print, rescue workers were working ceaselessly to reach Mr Solomon Nyarenda, Ms Pretty Mabuza and Ms Yvonne Mnisi, who were inside the so-called lamp room when disaster struck on Friday morning. It was a race against time as the three were reportedly without water. Families and colleagues could do nothing but wait and pray for their safe return.
Day 1 – Friday February 5
08:00
Miners receive their rescue packs and head lamps in the lamp room before descending. Nyarenda, Mabuza and Mnisi were on duty in the lamp room when the container, along with a number of other buildings, was swallowed by a massive sinkhole.
09:00
News of a collapse at Lily Mine broke. Sources who informed Lowvelder said rescue workers were on their way to the scene, not knowing what to expect. It was suspected that hundreds of miners had been injured, or possibly killed. At that stage, nobody could confirm whether it was a mineshaft that had caved in or provide any details of what had transpired.
10:00
Mr Mike Begg, operations director at Lily Mine, was at the scene shortly after the incident and addressed the media. He said that a service crown pillar had collapsed, blocking the main portal and preventing workers from getting out.
Begg added that, in laymen’s terms, the lamp room went down a sinkhole. He explained that the solid rock around the lamp room collapsed, causing everything on the surface to drop to what they suspected was “level five” – approximately 80 metres below ground level.
Eighty-seven miners who had been working underground managed to reach the surface safely, making use of ventilation shafts. They were treated by medical personnel on site and taken to Barberton General Hospital and Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mbombela, most with minor injuries. All of them have since been discharged.
12:00
The scene was visited by the MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Mr Vusi Shongwe. He was accompanied by newly-appointed provincial police commissioner, Lt Gen Mondli Zuma. Mineral resources minister
Mr Mosebenzi Zwane also arrived at the scene later that day, saying it was worrying that such serious incidents were occurring so early in the year.
Other dignitaries visited the mine to show their support and lend assistance, included the mayor of Umjindi Local Municipality, Cllr Lazaros Mashaba, municipal manger Mr Patrick Msibi, director of community services Mr Comfort Makhanya and the mayor of Nkomazi Local Municipality, Cllr Thuli Khoza. Representatives of mine unions, including the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, as well as the National Union of Mineworkers, were also present over the weekend.
Day 2 – Saturday February 6
10:00
The mood was sombre at the mine with rescue workers having worked through the night, without success. Some relatives and colleagues slept there, anxiously awaiting news. They sang and prayed to keep their spirits up. Religious leaders were also at the scene, including Mnisi’s father, Elmon Themba, who is a pastor. Donations in the form of water and food kept on pouring in to the mine. Apart from help from government, various Lowveld businesses and individuals also got involved.
Mr Mike McChesney, CEO of Vantage Goldfields, said they had seen an incredible outpouring of support from the local community and other stakeholders during “these extremely difficult past two days.
“Local retailers have donated food and refreshments for everyone on site and there has been a constant presence of
senior government and union officials, whose constructive engagement has been highly appreciated.”
12:00
An emotional Begg said rescue workers had reached level four and went down 80 metres lower in an effort to reach the trapped miners from below. Currently, miners are mining at level 13 and were nowhere near the level where the container was believed to have come to a standstill. The last time the mine operated on this level was in 2007/08.
Day 3 – Sunday February 7
By the afternoon, 3 500 tons of rock had already been taken out and removed from below the collapsed structures as it was too dangerous to access the container from above. The container kept on dropping as rescuers continued with their work. Approximately 10 000 tons of rock remained to be removed.
Day 4 – Monday February 8
Yesterday morning Mr Christo de Klerk, CEO of Mines Rescue Services South Africa, confirmed that there were signs of life coming from the depths of the mine. Rescue workers have been able to confirm that knocking sounds could be heard from below the debris in response to sounds made by the teams working above. Heat sensors and motion detectors reportedly also confirmed that at least one of the trapped miners was still alive.
Begg added that Nyarenda, Mabuza and Mnisi had oxygen and light to “last them a very long time”. However, the main concern was dehydration, as there was no water in the container.
• Lowveld Media broke the news about the incident at Lily Mine on Friday. Click here to read the initial report
