Nine miners who were trapped 2,000 metres underground in a South African gold mine were brought to the surface early yesterday and taken to hospital for observation, the mine-owner said.
African Rainbow Minerals said the miners, who endured temperatures of up to 40C and had little food and water after an earth tremor struck the mine on Monday afternoon, were in a stable and satisfactory condition.
"Rescue operations to reach the remaining two seriously injured and four deceased miners continued during the night, and an additional rescue team has joined the search," the mine company said.
Rescue teams worked for most of Thursday in an area about 50 centimetres wide to punch through the final layers of rock separating them from the trapped miners.
South African radio reported scenes of relief and jubilation among families of the trapped miners, as well as mine and government officials.
The men were working 2,100 metres underground when an earth tremor measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale struck the area.
Meanwhile yesterday in China 37 coal miners remained trapped for a fourth day deep underground in eastern Jiangsu Province, after a collapse on Tuesday that killed three other workers.