6 dead so far after coal mine gas explosion

The number of people killed by a gas explosion at Gloria coal mine in Middelburg‚ Mpumalanga‚ has risen to six‚ and more than 20 others remain trapped‚ an official at the mine said on Thursday.

The representative of the creditor protection team at the mine‚ Michael Elliot‚ said more people still stuck underground in the unused mine are presumed dead.

Rescue efforts were hampered by high levels of toxic gas underground‚ Elliot said.

“We first have to restore power to the mine and we have to restore the ventilation to make it safe, and once it’s safe ... then we will go and recover these people that are missing‚” he said.

The mine is owned by Tegeta Resources and Exploration‚ which is undergoing creditor protection after its owners‚ the Gupta brothers‚ found it difficult to continue doing business in the country after corruption allegations against them.

Several people had entered the mine on Wednesday afternoon to steal copper wires that supply electricity for lighting and ventilation when a gas pipe exploded‚ police spokesperson Leonard Hlathi said.

The Gupta brothers‚ their lawyers and officials from their firms and family representatives could not be reached for comment about the mine incident.