Emergency services are conducting a rescue mission at an illegal mining operation in Langlaagte, Johannesburg. It’s not immediately clear how many miners are trapped but family members have gathered on the surface. Photo: ANA
JOHANNESBURG – Emergency services are expected to launch a rescue operation at an illegal mining operation in Langlaagte, Johannesburg on Sunday.
It’s not immediately clear how many miners are trapped but family members have gathered on the surface.
Police believe the group of miners went underground on Wednesday, and have not yet returned.
Police Spokesperson Kay Makhubela says 16 family members went down to try save those trapped on Thursday.
Makhubela said only eight of the 16 returned to the surface and the rest is now trapped with the illegal miners.
“The police’s miners rescue services are at the scene and the team had a briefing and i s now preparing to go down,” he told eNCA on Sunday morning.
Sunday newspaper reports indicated that some illegal miners have died but Makhubela said at this stage they cannot say how many died and ow many are injured.
He did say however that they think “a big number of people are trapped”.
