Second collapse reported at S. African mine

Another collapse was reported at a South African mine where three missing miners are still trapped underground, sources said on Saturday.

This was the second collapse at the Lily Mine in Limpopo Province in northern South Africa. On February 5, a container collapsed into a shaft, trapping 81 miners. Rescuers have saved 78 miners, but three miners are still trapped underground.

As an rescue operation was still continuing, a second collapse took place on Friday night, according to local people near the mine.

Several sources confirmed the collapse, saying they heard a loud bang on Friday night.

There was no further details. The Lily Mine refused to make comment. A telephone call to the mine went unanswered.

Meanwhile, rescue operations in search of the three missing miners slowed down as drilling machines broke down.

Conditions have become increasingly dangerous, rescuers said.

The missing miners have been without food or water for days.

The main challenge is to drill into a big rock that is hanging where the collapse of the container happened, said the mine's operations director Mike Begg.

Begg said they would use vibration technology to loosen the rock.

Currently, about 550 tons of debris and rock, of an estimated total of 20, 000 tons was being moved each day. Endit