Deadly Mine Closed

On October 4, 2007 in Johannesburg, South Africa, South African officials suspended the use of the Elandsrand mine for up to six weeks. 3,200 miners were stranded more than a mile underground. South Africa's Mineral and Energy Department closed the mine after National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa stated that the accident was the result of poor safety standards. They also said that the workers were put to work around the clock. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa also suspected negligence. Harmony Gold, the mine's owner, quickly rejected the accusations.

The miners, including hundreds of women, were trapped at about 10 a.m. on Wednesday. A 50-foot section of an air pipe and its concrete base broke loose and fell down the main shaft of the mine. The pipe damaged the steel frame and cut the main power cables. All miners were safely out by 9 p.m.

Harmony Gold, waited until Wednesday evening to announce the accident. The company wanted to wait because they first believed all the workers would be out quickly. However, one miner fell while awaiting rescue and was brought out in a stretcher. This miner was the only injury in the accident. Thankfully, that miner if doing well.

Mining accidents have always been a part of history. One of the worst would be the Darr Mine Disaster. On December 19, 1907, in Pennsylvania, an explosion killed 239 men and teenage boys. Most of them were Hungarian immigrant laborers. That whole month is also known as the deadliest month in U.S Coal Mining History.