Multiple fatalities at Harmony’s Phakisa mine
Johannesburg. Friday, 25 June 2010. Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (Harmony) regrets to announce that three employees died in an underground explosion accident at its Phakisa mine in the Free State on Thursday, 24 June 2010. Two other employees were seriously injured and are being treated at the local hospital.
The employees were part of a Mine Rescue Team that was busy investigating a suspected fire in a raise, underground at the time of the accident. All other employees working underground at the time of the explosion were accounted for and are safe.
The explosion occurred at approximately 22:30 on Thursday, some 2,013 meters below surface.
Management together with the representatives of the Department of Mineral Resources worked through the night on the rescue operation. Investigations into the causes of the accident will be conducted once the area has been declared safe.
Harmony’s Chief Executive, Graham Briggs and his management team, expresses their sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and injured who were affected by the incident.
For more details contact:
Esha Brijmohan
Investor Relations Officer
+27 (0)82 759 1775