Eleven people lose their lives in a tragic accident at the Impala Platinum mine in South Africa

Eleven workers have lost their lives and 75 others have been injured in a tragic accident at a platinum mine in South Africa, according to the mine's operator. Nico Muller, the chief executive of Impala Platinum, expressed his deep sorrow and called it the "darkest day" in the company's history. The incident occurred due to a malfunction in a winding rope connected to a lift used to transport workers up and down the mine shaft. Unexpectedly, the lift began descending, leading to the tragic event. South Africa is known for having some of the world's deepest mines and is a major producer of platinum, gold, and other raw materials. Safety concerns have persisted in these mines over the years, but conditions have substantially improved since the end of white-minority rule in 1994. In the year 2022, there were approximately 50 recorded deaths in mines, a decrease from 74 in the previous year. The most recent accident happened on Monday at a mine located in Rustenburg, situated around 100km (60 miles) northwest of Johannesburg. Impala Platinum has initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident and temporarily halted all mining operations.