Miners Die in South Deep Accident

Nine workers have died at the Gold Fields-operated South Deep mine in South Africa, the latest in a series of accidents at the company's mines in the country.

The miners died after a cage they were riding in fell down a shaft.

"It is believed the cage snapped at around 3,000m below the surface, leading to the suspension of some operations at South Deep," Gold Fields spokesman Andrew Davidson told Reuters.

The accident follows an incident on Tuesday when four workers died at the company's Driefontein mine while another worker died after a rock fall at South Deep.

Safety inspectors from South Africa's Department of Minerals and Energy are now investigating the site.

The deaths come amid increased scrutiny of mining safety standards in the country.

By staff writer