The drilling of the second outlet at Lily mine has been completed, but a small team who went underground found that rocks were still falling, and the ground was not stable enough to send rescue teams down.
On Monday, Lily Mine spokesman Coetzee Zietsman said it was not safe to continue the search and that mine management was in constant communication with the team of experts to chart the way forward.
“The operation has been suspended indefinitely. Experts say it is too unstable underground. At this stage, we don’t know when the operation will resume,” Zietsman said.
Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane returned to Lily Mine on Sunday to receive an update on rescue efforts from the mine management and the team of inspectors from the department.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) on Monday said it supported the move to put the operation on hold until the environment is stable.
