3,000 Mine Workers Trapped

Men under 1.4-mile shaft may be losing air, union spokesman fears
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 3, 2007 4:52 PM CDT
3,000 Mine Workers Trapped
Miners work underground at the Harmony Goldmine, near Carletonville, South Africa, in this Wednesday Oct. 27, 2004 file photo. Some 3,000 miners were trapped underground when a water pipe burst and probably caused a shaft to collapse Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, in Harmony Gold's Elandsrand Mine near Johannesburg,...   (Associated Press)

More than 3,000 mine workers are trapped in South Africa after a broken water pipe collapsed a key shaft, MSNBC reports. Managers at Harmony Gold Mining, the world's third-largest gold producer, reported no injuries and promised to rescue the men within 24 hours. A spokeswoman said the pipe broke "due to fatigue" and fell down the 1.4-mile shaft.

Management claims to be in contact with the men, saying they currently have air and water. But a union spokesman argues that communication with the men died hours ago. He also fears that they may be losing oxygen after the collapse. "It's a terrible situation," he says. "The only exit is blocked." He added that the mine has been poorly maintained. (More South Africa stories.)

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