At least 8 dead in mine accident

Rescuers recovered eight bodies and continued to search for another missing worker on Thursday (February 6) after a fire and rock-fall at a Harmony Gold mine near Johannesburg, the worst accident in South Africa's mines in nearly five years.

Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu ordered an investigation into the incident at the Doornkop mine, 30 km west (20 miles) of the city, after initial reports that the fire was triggered by a small earthquake on Tuesday evening.

It is the most serious accident in South Africa's mines since nine workers died in a rock fall at a platinum mine in July 2009.

South Africa's gold mines are the deepest in the world and were ranked as some of the most dangerous during the apartheid era.