Johannesburg - Nine miners are unaccounted for after a fire broke out at Harmony Gold's Doornkop mine on Tuesday night, the company said on Wednesday.
The fire occurred about 1 733 metres underground, and was first reported at about 18:00 on Tuesday.
"Rescue teams were immediately dispatched underground, but access to the affected area is being hampered by smoke and a subsequent fall of ground. Operations at the mine have been suspended," the company said in a statement.
Contact was made with eight employees in a refuge bay, and rescuers are trying to reach these employees and establish the whereabouts of the nine employees who are unaccounted for.
The mine is situated west of Johannesburg.
