Update 1: Fire underground at Doornkop mine
Further to the statement issued this morning that an underground fire has broken out at Doornkop gold mine, the company is pleased to advise that rescuers have reached the eight employees located in the underground refuge bay, and are bringing them to surface. Efforts continue to establish the whereabouts of a further nine employees who are currently unaccounted for.
The fire was reported to have occurred in a stope adjacent to 192 level haulage (some 1 733m underground) at around 18:00 on Tuesday, 4 February 2014. Rescue teams were immediately dispatched underground, but access to the affected area is being hampered by smoke and a fall of ground.
Operations at the mine have been suspended.
Further updates will be provided as these become available.
The company will host a briefing for the media at 13:00.
Address: Doornkop gold mine, near Soweto
GPS co-ordinates: 26°12’48″S 27°46’45″E
For more details contact:
Russell and Associates
Charmane Russell and/or James Duncan
Tel: +27 (0)11 880 3924
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 318 9855