Underground fire halts mining

The fire occurred in an old mined out area where some cleaning operations had been taking place.

Mining operations at the Doornkop Mine just outside Krugersdorp were halted following an underground fire on Sunday.

Mining giant Harmony Gold said in a media statement that no one was injured as all employees were brought to safety.

“The fire has been contained and we continue to monitor the gas readings. We will be able to extinguish the fire in the next couple of days, enabling production to recommence,” Graham Briggs, Harmony’s chief executive officer, said.

According to the statement the fire occurred in an old mined out area where some cleaning operations had been taking place.

For the interim production has been stopped for safety reasons and indications are that the company will be able to start with production early next week.

Last year March nine miners died after they were trapped after a seismic event, a rock fall and an underground fire which had broken out, trapping a total of 17 miners.

Eight miners were rescued after one miner managed to escape from the shaft on his own and pointed out possible locations of other survivors.

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