Thousands Trapped in Gold Mine

(Carletonville, South Africa) Breaking news! Reportedly, at least 3,200 miners are trapped more than 7,000 feet below ground.

From CNN:

More than 3,000 mine workers are trapped at Harmony Gold's Elandsrand mine in Carletonville, South Africa, according to the South African Press Association.

No injuries have been reported. Carletonville is about 50 miles southwest of Johannesburg, South Africa.

The workers were trapped when a falling pipe column cut power to the lift used to hoist them to the surface, the press association said.

The mineworkers union said a water pipe burst and probably caused the shaft to collapse, The Associated Press reported.

There has been extensive damage to the steel work and the electrical feeder cords attached to the lift, according to a Harmony Gold spokesperson quoted by SAPA.

Workers above ground are trying to configure a second cage to rescue the 3,200 people who are trapped.

The lift is expected to be functioning within a couple of hours, but the cage can take only 300 workers to the surface every half hour, the spokesperson said, according to the press association.

An official with mine said the trapped workers would be evacuated over the next 24 hours, AP reported.

However, concern has been expressed about the danger of suffocation as a result of high temperatures. The temperatures range between 86 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.


[Update 10/04/07, 1600 EDT]

CNN reports that all miners have been rescued with no major injuries.