Impala Platinum mine shaft accident explained

Impala Platinum mine shaft accident
Date:	27 November 2023
Place:	Rustenburg, South Africa
Cause:	Falling mine elevator
Casualties1:	13 dead, 73 injured

An elevator accident occurred on 27 November 2023 at the Impala Platinum mine in Rustenburg, South Africa, when an ascending mine elevator fell 200 m down the number 11 shaft.^[1] Eleven miners were killed on the scene and 75 injured, with a 12th and 13th miners dying later in hospital.^[2] The elevator was stopped from falling further by automatic safety mechanisms, but the mechanisms failed when the counterweight became trapped, resulting in a sudden stop which led to the fatalities.^{[3] [4]}

See also

• Vaal Reefs mining disaster, a 1995 mine elevator accident in South Africa which was the world's worst, with a death toll of 104.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Eleven miners killed, 75 injured in Implats Rustenburg accident. David. McKay. 27 November 2023. Mining Mx.
2. Web site: Implats to restart platinum mine after death of 13 workers. William. Clowes. 30 November 2023. News24.
3. Web site: Implats says 11 miners killed, 75 in hospital after conveyance cage tragedy in Rustenburg. Ed. Stoddard. 28 November 2023. Daily Maverick.
4. Web site: Failure of emergency protocol led to death of 11 Implats miners after 'rapid descent' of conveyance cage. Ed. Stoddard. Michelle. Banda. Daily Maverick. 29 November 2023.