National
All 486 trapped miners rescued in Carletonville─── 05:27 Mon, 23 Feb 2015
Carletonville - All 486 miners that were trapped underground when a fire broke out at a gold mine near Carletonville have been safely brought to the surface, the Harmony Gold Mining Company said on Sunday.
"Everybody's out safely," spokeswoman Memory Johnstone said.
No injuries or deaths had been reported.
"Employees are going to go for observation, to make sure that they're physically healthy."
A fire started on the Kusasalethu gold mine's 75 level, approximately 2,300 metres below surface, at around 09.40am this morning.
Some of the miners had used refuge bays underground which were supplied with fresh air, water and telephone communication to surface.
The fire was believed to have started during maintenance work on a bulk air cooler.
All operations at the mine had been suspended.
Johnstone said the fire had been contained.
"Assessment of the damage will happen, but the main priority was just to make sure that everybody was safe."
Sapa
