Johannesburg - The search for five workers trapped underground after what Glencore described as as “geotechnical failure” at its Katanga copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was continuing, the company said in a statement on Thursday.
Two other workers died in the incident on Tuesday, which has been described elsewhere as a landslide.
Read: Wall collapses at Glencore mine in DRC
Glencore chief executive Ivan Glasenberg said: “Despite our relentless and committed programme to improve health and safety across the group, the tragic events at Katanga underscore the ongoing challenge we face to make our operations fatality-free.
“Any loss of life is unacceptable. The team at Katanga continues to do everything possible to locate our missing colleagues.”
The Katanga mining joint venture is controlled by Glencore, the Swiss-based diversified natural resource giant, while DRC's state mining company Gecamines holds a minority stake.
ANA