The disaster of Merriespruit and its consequences: Remediation 3 Making safe

In the days and weeks following the flow slide disaster at the Merriespruit tailings dam there was a significant danger that further failures could occur while the structure was in a precarious and vulnerable state where slopes were standing near vertical and the cause and mechanism of the failure was not readily apparent. Such failures could easily develop into further flow slide failures which could endanger the lives of rescue workers, contractors and residents who were attempting to recover their possessions. It was therefore necessary to implement measures that would provide early warning of any further developments of the failure and that would systematically and rapidly secure the dam to make it safe enough for people to carry out rehabilitation in safety and for residents to return to their homes. This paper describes the measures implemented in the immediate aftermath of the disaster at a time when the residents, mine personnel and the nation were coming to terms with the unfortunate consequences of the disaster and all were eager to redeem the situation as far as possible.