South Africa: rescue workers search for 9 missing miners after underground fire at gold mine

JOHANNESBURG – A gold-mining company in South Africa says nine employees are missing after an underground fire broke out at a mine west of Johannesburg.

The Harmony company said Wednesday that the fire reportedly started about 1.7 kilometers (1 mile) underground around 6 p.m. Tuesday, and that rescue teams were hampered by smoke and an earthfall.

Harmony says rescue workers reached eight miners who had taken refuge from the fire at Doornkop mine, and they are now trying to locate the missing workers.

Operations at the mine have been suspended.