ANA reports that rescue and body retrieval workers on Friday afternoon brought to the surface 13 more bodies of suspected copper cable thieves from the underground area at Gloria coal mine in Mpumalanga.
Police spokesman Brigadier Leonard Hlathi indicated: “The workers could not continue with the operations due to the severe smoke which prohibited them, and they will apparently go down again on Monday. The total number of retrieved bodies is now 18. An inquest docket has been opened for investigation. We are also investigating a case of trespassing in relation to this incident.” The 13 retrieved bodies are among those of some of about 20 people who were trapped at the Gloria mine’s underground area about three weeks ago, when an explosion occurred while they were allegedly stealing cables. The rescue and retrieval operations were subsequently marred by, among other things, the rising level of methane gas which made the conditions underground unsafe. Gloria mine, which is owned by the Gupta family, was placed under business rescue a year ago and its workers were put on special leave in December last year.
- Read the original of the report on this story in full at Mining Weekly
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