|
Fears grow for 6 trapped miners
|
| 08/02/2010 00:00:00 |
 |
by Lunga Sibanda |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A DESPERATE rescue effort was underway on Monday to pull six miners out of a collapsed tunnel at the Antenior gold mine in the small town of Gwanda, about 125km south of Bulawayo.
Officials said the tunnel collapsed just after 5am on Friday with the miners believed to be between 20 and 30 metres inside the burrow.
The rescue effort was hampered by lack of equipment, with the owners of the small mine turning to neighbouring Mimosa Mine and Blanket Mine for help.
Matabeleland South police chief Assistant Commissioner Ernest Muchenjekwa said: “Mimosa Mine said that they want cash upfront before they begin any rescue efforts.
“Blanket Mine officials as well as those from the Mining Commissioner’s office have all been to Antenior to assess the situation.”
Muchenjekwa said fears were growing for the miners who have not had access to water or food since the tunnel collapse.
Antenior is registered to one Douglas Starling, but workers said it was currently being operated by a man identified only as Siduli.
|
|