3,200 miners trapped in South African gold mine

[Dirtybird12]

Nearly 3,200 workers were trapped underground in a South African gold mine after a falling pipe damaged the shaft that leads to the exit, a mine official told MSNBC-TV

LINK (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21120416/)

[spoon]

WTF is going on with mining these days? It feels like we're going backwards in terms of safety and technology in mining techniques. Can anyone remember so many accidents like this?

[King Hippos Bandaid]

that sucks

:king:

[TheMojoPin]

WTF is going on with mining these days? It feels like we're going backwards in terms of safety and technology in mining techniques. Can anyone remember so many accidents like this?

This, what, only the 3rd major mining accident in the last few years?

[TooLowBrow]

i'm guessing that the priority is the gold

[epo]

i'm guessing that the priority is the gold

I believe gold diamonds to be precise.

These stories are always awful...and never seem to end up well.

[clockworkjoey]

This, what, only the 3rd major mining accident in the last few years?

They happen all the time. china has had about 10 this year alone just because it doesn't happen here in the states it doesn't mean that it isn't happening other places in the world.

[spoon]

That's some of what I'm talking about as worker rights continue to fall everywhere but France. I read a story (online I know) that the number of mining accidents around the world has been going up a lot the last five years or so with better equipment available.

The article did mention that mining has increased, especially in countries with increasing industrial capacities, but also stated it has been happening here in the States as well.

[sr71blackbird]

From what I read, it doesn't seem they are in real danger. The mine didn't flood or collapse, it was just a water damaged elevator shaft. They are using cages to pull them out a few at a time. It will take a while, but I think they will be ok.

[djjd]

They happen all the time. china has had about 10 this year alone just because it doesn't happen here in the states it doesn't mean that it isn't happening other places in the world.

excerpt from an article on deaths in chinese mines

According to the numbers that we found: 6,434 died in mining accidents in 2003 for a daily average of 17.6; 6,027 died in mining accidents in 2004 for a daily average of 16.5; between January 1, 2005 and December 11, 2005, 5,491 died for a daily average of 15.9.

How many people die coal mine disasters in America? According to the data that we found, 46 died in 1995; 41 died in 2001; 28 died in 2002; 22 died in 2005.

Comparing the number of deaths in China to the number of deaths in America, the Chinese number is approxiately 200 times than that of the American number. At the moment, America produces 1.087 billion tons of coal while China produces 2.11 billion tons. That is, the Chinese coal output is about twice that of America. In other words, the number of deaths per 100 tons of produced coal is about 100 times than the number for America!

the full article is here (http://zonaeuropa.com/20060131_1.htm)

[Kevin]

That's some of what I'm talking about as worker rights continue to fall everywhere but France. I read a story (online I know) that the number of mining accidents around the world has been going up a lot the last five years or so with better equipment available.

The article did mention that mining has increased, especially in countries with increasing industrial capacities, but also stated it has been happening here in the States as well.

Maybe its because we have been digging for so long now that there is less stability down there...

[suggums]

I believe gold diamonds to be precise.



winner!

[spoon]

Maybe its because we have been digging for so long now that there is less stability down there...

Sounds like someone has crabs Kevin!

[spoon]

excerpt from an article on deaths in chinese mines

According to the numbers that we found: 6,434 died in mining accidents in 2003 for a daily average of 17.6; 6,027 died in mining accidents in 2004 for a daily average of 16.5; between January 1, 2005 and December 11, 2005, 5,491 died for a daily average of 15.9.

How many people die coal mine disasters in America? According to the data that we found, 46 died in 1995; 41 died in 2001; 28 died in 2002; 22 died in 2005.

Comparing the number of deaths in China to the number of deaths in America, the Chinese number is approxiately 200 times than that of the American number. At the moment, America produces 1.087 billion tons of coal while China produces 2.11 billion tons. That is, the Chinese coal output is about twice that of America. In other words, the number of deaths per 100 tons of produced coal is about 100 times than the number for America!

the full article is here (http://zonaeuropa.com/20060131_1.htm)


Good article, but the one I read, and forgive me it was a while back (last year I think), stated that the numbers are actually much worse. Both the US and China are using new tactics to claim the workers died in the hospital, not in a mining accident. It stressed that the US companies were taking advantage of desperate, poor US workers/families and the Chinese were simply doing whatever they wanted to.

[sailor]

They happen all the time. china has had about 10 this year alone just because it doesn't happen here in the states it doesn't mean that it isn't happening other places in the world.

but it means we don't have to care.

[Midkiff]

WTF is going on with mining these days? It feels like we're going backwards in terms of safety and technology in mining techniques. Can anyone remember so many accidents like this?

The earth is ridding herself of we ants. She hiccups, we die.





I blame the blacks.

[DolaMight]

3200 mimes are trapped and not a single call for help?
http://www.beantownentertainment.com/images/mime.gif

[DolaMight]

3200 trapped. I wonder what Fox and CNN's ratio of total airtime to amount of trapped miners is. If the last couple of collapses with 10-30 miners trapped are used as a measure, expect wall to wall coverage for the next 10.4 years.

Wait I forgot to divide the foreign and black factor. 10.4 years / 237 = 0.4 minutes. Expect wall to wall coverage for as much as 0.4 minutes.

[Coach]

I live in the "Mining City" of America. There are private mines all over: Gold, Copper, Silver, Agate, and Sapphires..There are about 7 deaths a year in private mines here.. noone locally seems to care...like Disney...hose it down and keep going!
(and to make a wakka wakka: a good Start!....that old gag!)

[spoon]

3200 trapped. I wonder what Fox and CNN's ratio of total airtime to amount of trapped miners is. If the last couple of collapses with 10-30 miners trapped are used as a measure, expect wall to wall coverage for the next 10.4 years.

Wait I forgot to divide the foreign and black factor. 10.4 years / 237 = 0.4 minutes. Expect wall to wall coverage for as much as 0.4 minutes.

Wow, that's funny, sad and true all in one!

[A.J.]

i'm guessing that the priority is the gold

Always.

http://www.colossusblog.com/mt/archives/images/goldfinger10.jpg

[FUNKMAN]

what do you call 3200 african miners trapped in a mine?

[TooLowBrow]

what do you call 3200 african miners trapped in a mine?
http://www.teevblogger.com/images/richards1106.jpg

[NortonsHeiny]

All of those miners are reportedly out safe. How is it that the fucking South Africans can get thousands of people out of mine and our mining industry can not rescue a half a dozen miners without killing an additional three rescue people???

[sailor]

All of those miners are reportedly out safe. How is it that the fucking South Africans can get thousands of people out of mine and our mining industry can not rescue a half a dozen miners without killing an additional three rescue people???

i'd imagine mines with 3200 people in them are very little like mines that have only a few dozen folk working in them.

[spoon]

that and the severity of the accident

[TooLowBrow]

Mining officials said 3,200 workers were stranded when the electricity cable of the Elandsrand mine's main lift was severed in an accident. Up to 200 women were among those stuck in a cramped space where temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius. so only 3000 people were trapped

[MadMatt]

It looks like all the miners have been rescued safely. Link here (http://www.comcast.net/news/international/index.jsp?cat=INTERNATIONAL&fn=/2007/10/04/780095.html&cvqh=itn_miners).

Not many details there, but I'll look for more. At least it looks like good news.

EDIT: About 1700 were saved earlier this morning (our time), but the last 1500 or so were rescued about an hour ago.

[Sneaky Fucking Russian]

http://www.teevblogger.com/images/richards1106.jpg

OMG I laughed so hard! MY GF is PISSED i woke her up.

[sailor]

wait, so all that happened was their elevator broke down and needed a repairman? fuckin' waste of a headline.

[Cleophus James]

Mines are pissed.

[lleeder]

wait, so all that happened was their elevator broke down and needed a repairman? fuckin' waste of a headline.

They said it was a minor accident from the start.

[sailor]

They said it was a minor accident from the start.

then why was it news?

[scottinnj]

All of those miners are reportedly out safe. How is it that the fucking South Africans can get thousands of people out of mine and our mining industry can not rescue a half a dozen miners without killing an additional three rescue people???

All the South Africans had diamonds in their pockets. Which made it essential by the CEOs to rescue them-an "insurance" policy, so to speak.

[lleeder]

then why was it news?

white guilt

[sailor]

All the South Africans had diamonds in their pockets. Which made it essential by the CEOs to rescue them-an "insurance" policy, so to speak.

not really. what, if they died the diamonds would melt?