Quote :

" (CNN) -- More than 3,000 mine workers are trapped at Harmony Gold's Elandsrand mine in Carletonville, South Africa, according to the South African Press Association. No injuries have been reported. The workers became trapped when a falling pipe column cut power to the lift used to hoist them to the surface, the press association said. The mineworkers' union said a water pipe burst and probably caused the shaft to collapse, The Associated Press reported. There has been extensive damage to the steel work and the electrical feeder cords attached to the lift, according to a Harmony Gold spokesperson quoted by SAPA. Workers above ground are trying to configure a second cage to rescue those trapped. The lift is expected to be functioning in two hours, but it could take more than 10 hours to evacuate all the miners, according to the press association. The cage can only take 300 workers to the surface every half hour, the spokesperson said. Mine management is in contact with the workers, who have access to water and air, the press association reported. The workers have been trapped since 10 a.m., but news was not reported until 9 p.m. There was no emergency exit in the shaft, which had "not been maintained for ages," the press association quoted mineworkers union spokesman Lesiba Seshoka as saying."

hope they get them out

[Edited on October 3, 2007 at 6:46 PM. Reason : http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/10/03/carletonville.mine/index.html]

looked on the first page didn't see it, oh well

[Edited on October 3, 2007 at 6:46 PM. Reason : .]

10/3/2007 6:45:45 PM

old

10/3/2007 6:46:09 PM

[old]

10/3/2007 6:46:09 PM

that could definitely turn into a lord of the flies situation

10/3/2007 6:46:14 PM

i'll see your 6 US miners and raise you 3,000 south african miners

10/3/2007 6:46:23 PM

God works in missterious ways

10/3/2007 6:46:28 PM

10/3/2007 6:46:54 PM

I've seen some pix of those mines on those discovery channel shows.

They go very deep into the earth, and look like serious coffins.

I wonder how their safety standards (if they exist) compare to the ones here.

10/3/2007 6:47:48 PM

i'd imagine those mines are probably like the boards on Gears of War

10/3/2007 6:49:38 PM

Seeing as how that's my native country....when we went there once, we visited an old mine that was turned into a tourist thing. You go down pretty deep...and if I remember correctly, it gets cold down there...and dark...very very dark. The elevator thing ride is long and you get just a little more paniced with each inch.

10/3/2007 6:50:04 PM

Quote :

"I've seen some pix of those mines on those discovery channel shows. They go very deep into the earth"

no way

10/3/2007 6:50:32 PM