A tragedy unfolded on Wednesday afternoon last week when a young girl was killed in the Sikame area near the Vryheid East Sidings.
The girl and two other minors were digging out old coal from the dumps next to the railway lines when the ‘mine’ collapsed on them. Community members alerted emergency services, and nearby workers rushed to the scene to help dig out the youngsters.
Unfortunately, one girl died after being crushed by the collapsing sand and rubble. The other two children sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate and were taken to hospital. It is said that the community has been warned and the authorities have tried to stop people from digging out the coal. It is a hazardous exercise, as there is always a chance that the dumps could collapse. The old coal is dug out to sell and for home use.
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