Earth moving machines and shoring equipment used to enable safe access, and the retrieval of the men. Image: Twitter @chiefMlu
Tshwane trench collapse claims three lives
Contractors who were working in a six-metre-deep trench to replace a sewage line, the trench collapsed on them.
Earth moving machines and shoring equipment used to enable safe access, and the retrieval of the men. Image: Twitter @chiefMlu
On Friday afternoon, three Tshwane contract workers were killed when a trench they were digging collapsed in Capital Park, Pretoria.
Tshwane and Gauteng emergency services worked all night to collect the remains, which were discovered just after 6:00 on Saturday.
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How did the trench collapse?
According to Tshwane EMS spokesperson Charles Mabaso, one worker was brought to a local hospital with moderate injuries, while two others fled the 6m by 4m hole unharmed.
“The workers were working for a City of Tshwane contractor and were repairing a sewage line in Capital Park, ” said Mabaso.
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Mabaso went on to say that rescue workers used earth moving machines and shoring equipment to enable safe access, and that the retrieval of the men, aged 20 to 35, took more than 12 hours due to the unstable ground.
“The scene was turned over to police for further investigation.” “We would like to encourage contractors and contract workers to use safe practices when working in trenches, regardless of depth or size,” he said.
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The names of the victims have not yet been released pending the notification of their families by the South African Police Services (SAPS).
Similar case
Nearly a month ago, a devastating subterranean gas explosion rocked Johannesburg’s city center.
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The incident occurred during high traffic hours in Johannesburg, killing one person and injuring 48 others.
Thirty-seven vehicles, the most of which were minibus taxis, were also damaged in the explosion that wrecked sections of Bree and Rissik streets.
According to City Manager Floyd Brink, the inquiry indicated that methane gas was the cause of the incident.
