Rescue mission underway for about 300 trapped miners in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Friday that rescue operations are underway to bring to the surface about 300 miners trapped underground for more than 24 hours at a mine about 60 km west of Johannesburg.

Speaking to Xinhua over the phone, NUM Health and Safety National Chairperson Duncan Luvuno, who is at the scene of the rescue mission, said the incident occurred Thursday morning at Sibanye-Stillwater's Kloof mine in Westonaria, Gauteng Province, but the union was only informed about it in the afternoon.

"The management did not share this with the union until 2:00 p.m. and we were told that it was a normal breakdown that would be resolved," he said. "It's regrettable that we were not informed early."

Earlier media reports said the miners were trapped after equipment failure caused debris to damage the shaft, preventing their return to the surface. No injuries or deaths were reported.

"The rescue process is being underway. We are trying to get food to the workers down there. They can't use the escape route. The lights are off," Luvuno said.