5 killed in S.Africa mine fire

At least five miners in South Africa were killed following an underground fire, the government said, while a rescue operation was ongoing for the sole survivor.

A conveyor belt at a mine operated by Palabora Copper in northeastern Limpopo province caught fire, trapping the six staff underground, the company said in a statement yesterday.

"Five employees have now been confirmed dead at Palabora Mining. The search for one employee continues," wrote South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources on its Twitter account.

"An investigation will commence once the last remaining employee is found and the fire underground has been contained and the area declared safe."