An engineering services company has deployed drones to help piece out events that led to the collapse of a tailings dam wall in Jagersfontein, South Africa.

The government confirmed that one person died and about 40 others were hospitalised when the dam wall at a disused diamond mine in the Jagersfontein area in Free State province burst early on the morning of September 11.

The resultant flooding also destroyed about 300 people’s homes and property, among which was livestock and vehicles.

Utilities like electricity and water supply to the area were also cut.

The country’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has paid a visit to the disaster scene, while the company that owns the mine has promised to leave no stone unturned in their investigations to establish what happened.

Against this background, engineering services company Delta Scan was approached to assist with the investigations and rescue efforts.

The start-up uses drone technology to map, monitor, inspect and investigate utility and other infrastructure, as well as disaster incidents, among other new technological implements.

Recently, they were in KwaZulu Natal helping with the recovery efforts after flooding in the area left dozens dead and property worth millions of dollars destroyed.

So when they were called in to assist in Jagersfontein, they did not hesitate.

“Our team had a busy night carrying out thermal operations over the Jagersfontein collapse,” the company said.

“Delta Scan was contacted to assist with mapping, investigation and rescue efforts using our drone technology and the Delta Cloud platform. We jumped at the opportunity to help.”

A rather new but welcome technology, thermal imaging works by using sensors to detect heat signatures of objects, and turning them into images that humans can visualise and make sense of.

When mounted on drones, thermal cameras can be used to find missing people and animals; give comprehensive situational awareness during ongoing disasters (like wild fires and flooding); as well as provide aerial reconnaissance around dangerous environments without putting workers in the line of physical harm.

There are several uses for thermal drone technology; information of which can be found in this article.

“One of our core services is around TSF monitoring using digital technologies with many mines utilising the visualisation tools and analytics our platform provides. We were invited to speak last year at the SAIMM conference on tailings dam monitoring,

“Data will be released to assist with any further investigations

“All drone operations are being carried out with strict legal compliance through (industrial drone services company) DC Geomatics Johannesburg and are being coordinated with the other emergency response departments and helicopters in the area. Thanks to James Howard (Director of industrial drone services company Terra Ops) for the great work!”

Earlier, management at Jagersfontein Development, the company that owns the place had promised to get to the bottom of evets that led to the dam bursting and unleashing a gush of muddy slime into people’s homes.

“The management of Jagersfontein Development (Pty) Ltd has activated its emergency and disaster management protocols and are assessing the situation together with the department of water affairs and local emergency services,” said Jagersfontein Development in a statement.

“A full team of experts will be assessing the situation. Further updates will be issued.

The office of the Free State Province premier said four people were missing as a result of the collapse and mudslide.

“Thirty-five patients have been transported to Diamant Hospital in Jagersfontein, among them one pregnant lady, four with fractured limbs the rest for bruises and hypothermia,” said Palesa Chubisi, the premier’s spokesperson.

“Five more patients were transported to Albert Nzula Hospital in Trompsburg. However, the search and rescue efforts are continuing.”

First established in 1870, Jagersfontein Mine is located close to the town of Jagersfontein, about 110km south-west of the provincial capital Bloemfontein. The mine boasts of two of the ten biggest diamonds ever discovered – the Excelsior and the Reitz (now called the Jubilee).