NATIONAL NEWS - The tally of people who are trapped in the Gloria mineshaft has climbed to an estimate of 26 people with no real chance of rescue.
Some of the members who were initially part of the group of 42, all of whom were involved in a cable theft incident, disclosed details in an interview about the events to Middelburg Observer.
After admitting to attempted theft, the group refused to divulge their personal details, but gave their account of the accident.
They entered the Gloria Coal Mine on Monday evening to strip the equipment when a methane explosion resulted in 22 members of the group being trapped underground.
Some of the survivors managed to retrieve two of the trapped people, but after going back inside to help the others, another four to six people never made it out.
It is suspected that they have been suffocated by the methane leakage.
ANC ward councillor Andile Mazwane, who has been at the forefront of the rescue mission, told Middelburg Observer that ambulances were dispatched to assist the two people who had been recovered. It is believed they were unconscious when found.
