Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 4, 2007

More Workers Rescued at South African Gold Mine
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=19BC5E9:A6F02AD83191E160C6CD850244B296769574F7DCC14957C0 Rescue crews still
working to reach more than 1,000 other workers who remain stuck in
Elandsrand mine





Mine workers leave a second smaller cage in another shaft at Harmony
Gold's Elandsrand Mine in Carletonville, 4 Oct 2007At least 2,000
workers have now been rescued from a South African gold mine after
being trapped more than two kilometers underground since an accident
on Wednesday.

Rescue crews are still working to reach more than a 1,000 other
workers who remain stuck in the Elandsrand mine, located near the town
of Carletonville, just outside Johannesburg.

Workers pulled from the mine are being greeted with food and water
upon reaching the surface. Officials say they are tired and hungry,
but are otherwise in good condition.

However, one worker had to be treated for dehydration.

Mine operator Harmony Gold, Amelia Soares, says the workers became
trapped after a pipe broke and fell down a mine shaft, damaging
electric cables that power the mine's elevator.

Both Harmony and South African mining officials say production at the
mine will be halted while they conduct investigations.

Officials from South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers say they
suspect negligence was the cause of the accident.

South Africa is the world's biggest producer of gold, and unions have
often complained of lax safety conditions at the mines.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.


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