Harmony Gold shuts mine to aid rescue efforts as workers trapped

Harmony has shut its Tshepong gold mine in South Africa to allow rescue efforts following a fall of ground which has trapped two workers. The company is not sure whether workers alive or dead.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters)  - 

Harmony Gold Mining Co. (HARJ.J: Quote), the world's No. 5 producer said on Friday it had temporarily stopped production at its Tshepong mine in South Africa after a fall of ground trapped two workers underground.

"The mine is not blasting and is not producing so as to prevent further danger to our employees," Marian van der Walt, Harmony's executive of corporate and investor relations said.

"The rescuers are working vigorously trying to rescue the two workers who are still trapped underground."

She could not say if the workers were alive or dead.

Harmony said a fall of ground occurred at the Free State mine on Thursday afternoon trapped four workers, but two were rescued uninjured. The mine is located near the town of Odendaalsrus and comprises a vertical shaft transporting ore to the group's Free State 1 Plant.

The company said on its website the mine produced 273,119 ounces of gold in Harmony's 2008 fiscal year.

(Reporting by James Macharia, Editing by Peter Blackburn)

© Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved.

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