[miningmx] — AN UNDERGROUND fire has brought operations at Harmony Gold’s Phakisa and Tshepong mines to a standstill.
The company said on Wednesday the fire started at Phakisa the previous day and was still blazing at the time of the announcement.
“Employees were immediately moved to safety, but one person has still not been accounted for,’ Harmony said. “Despite several attempts to find the missing person, the intensity of the smoke and the high gas levels are making it difficult for the rescue teams to search for the person.’
The group said it halted work at Tshepong as well due to the fact that the two mines’ underground areas are linked.
“Proto teams are working non-stop to find our colleague and fighting the fire’, said CEO Graham Briggs.
