South Africa Unions Decry Fatalities as Six Die at Copper Mine
- Department to investigate accident, Minister Mantashe says
- Bodies of workers found after fire at Palabora Mining Co.
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South Africa’s mining industry is heading for the deadliest year since 2012 after six people died in an underground fire at Palabora Mining Co.’s copper operation.
Sunday’s accident brings the industry’s total to at least 54 and is the second-worst incident this year after seven people died at a Sibanye Gold Ltd. mine when an earth tremor cased a rockfall. The incident will be investigated by the Department of Mineral Resources, Minister Gwede Mantashe said.