Methane gas explosion in South African coal mine kills 34

Title

Methane gas explosion in South African coal mine kills 34

Genre

News report; Press conference

TX Date

9 Apr 1987

Year of production

1987

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Duration

00:02:12

Description

Report on a methane gas explosion at a coal mine in Ermelo, east of Johannesburg, which has killed 34. Head of the Black National Union of Mine Workers, Cyril Ramaphosa, is highly critical of the mine’s owner, Gencor, and says the disaster could have been avoided. An explosion at another Gencor mine in Kinross killed 170 men and Ramaposa said having failed to defeat the union Gencor are trying to destroy as many lives as possible. Male reporter not identified.

Contributors

Cyril Ramaphosa

Keywords

Deaths; Trade unions; Coal mining; Coal miners; Coal mines; Explosions; Johannesburg; Gas explosions; Coal mine accidents; Mine safety; Methane; Ermelo; National Union of Mine Workers; Gencor; Kinross

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