Bodies of 8 miners located in south African gold mine

Rescue workers have located the bodies of eight mineworkers who were unaccounted for following a fire at the Doornkop gold mine west of Johannesburg, mine owner Harmony Gold said on Thursday. Harmony's CEO Graham Briggs, the board and management extend their condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the men who died, the company said in a statement. Nine mineworkers were missing after the fire broke out on Tuesday night in a stope adjacent to 192 level haulage (some 1, 733m underground), following a seismic event that triggered a fall of ground. The search continued for the ninth employee, but rescue work was hampered by smoke and a fall of ground, the company said. On Wednesday, eight other miners were rescued from the underground refuge bay and were unharmed, said the company. All operations other than essential services have been suspended at the mine. The fire was caused by a 2.4 magnitude earthquake which damaged electric cables, triggering the blaze, according to the National Union of Mineworkers. "It (the quake) resulted in the collapse of underground rocks which caused damage to ventilation pipes, electric cables and water pipes," the union said.