Johannesburg - There was still no progress by midday on Friday from the rescue operations at Lily mine in Barberton, Mpumalanga, where three workers remain trapped underground after the mine collapsed last week.
Friday morning marked exactly seven days since Yvonne Mnisi, Pretty Mabuza, and Solomon Nyarenda were trapped underground at the Vantage Goldfields-owned Lily mine when the lamp room container they were working in fell into a sinkhole before being covered by huge rocks.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), the majority union at Lily mine, on Wednesday said the rescue team was able to break the rock that was blocking the entrance to the container room where the miners were trapped.
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But by Friday, an Amcu official said there was no significant progress recorded following that.
The mine operations director, Mike Begg, briefed the media on Friday morning, explaining the overnight details of the rescue operations.
According to a radio report, Begg said they were making slow progress with the operation which was posing some challenges. A massive rock, weighing several tonnes, was blocking the rescue team's way and making it very dangerous to try and access the search area.
There were fears the rock could fall on one of the members of the rescue team.
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JacarandaFM reported that Begg said rescuers did some controlled blasts and they were able to bring some rescue materials down on Thursday night.
But Begg is also reported to have said that they still had to get through the rock layer.
The radio station reported that Begg said: “The machinery is working in tough conditions, the ventilation is poor. They still believe they are searching in the right zone but they are working in challenging conditions using 20 meter vertical ladders.”
Mine management is hoping to move the rock so they could bring down more rescue material on Friday.
A helicopter was seen flying over the mine, but Begg informed the victims' families and the media that it was only delivering the explosives, not transporting anyone.
Amcu president, Joseph Mathunjwa, has twice gone underground to help with the rescue operation.
On Thursday he continued to plea with big business that have essential equipment and technology to come forward and assist. Mnisi's mother on Thursday fell ill due to stress from the week-long ordeal.
Families continue to gather with community members outside the mine, holding inter-faith prayers for the safe return of the miners. Begg praised the families for their co-operation and understanding.
AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY