An elevator carrying workers to the surface at a giant South African platinum mine plunged out of control killing 11 and injuring 75, the mine operators said Tuesday.
Impala Platinum said the “devastating accident” happened on Monday at its Rustenburg mine, northwest of Johannesburg, as more than 80 employees were leaving a shaft at the end of their shift.
The alert was raised shortly before 5:00pm (1500 GMT) as the lift “unexpectedly started descending”, according to the company.
“Its rapid descent was stopped by the conveyance counterweight becoming trapped by the jack catches,” it said in a statement.
Jack catches are safety systems intended to stop lifts and underground trains from rolling back in case of an accident.
“Our hearts are heavy for the lives lost and the individuals affected by this devastating accident,” Impala Platinum’s (Implats) CEO, Nico Muller, said in a statement.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of…
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