Mock Drill response time

A tailings dam is typically an earth-fill embankment dam used to store byproducts of mining operations after separating the ore from the gangue. This safety precaution was taken in case of a possible failure or unforeseen natural disaster.

The smelter called in the help of Rapid Response for blocking off the road before a natural dip in the terrain leading towards the smelter. This dip will possibly be the place where water from this dam will flow and accumulate, on account of the natural shape of the surrounding field.

The time for the mock drill was not disclosed to any of the parties involved. According to Deon Broekman of Rapid Response, they only had a phone call to act on once the smelter set the drill in place.

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It took Rapid Response a mere six minutes to reach the point in the road where the closure would take place. This included the dispatch of three rescue vehicles, hazmat members in full uniform attire and the closure of the road via safety cones and vehicles. Mpumlanga Traffic was not far behind and reached the scene mere minutes after the first respondents.

While traffic was being directed, the drill siren could be heard coming from the smelter for the evacuation exercise.

The danger of a failing tailings dam is severe. Such a disaster happened in February 1994 when the Merriespruit tailings dam in Virginia in the Free State failed by overtopping, as a consequence of heavy rains causing a flow slide (static liquefaction) of part of the embankment.

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Water mismanagement was then to blame that caused 600 000 m of tailings (1,2 million tons) to pour out of the impoundment. The flow eventually stopped two kilometres away in the town of Merriespruit.

During this incident, 17 people were killed and scores of houses demolished.