afrol News, 21 July - At least nine miners were killed after a mine shaft collapsed and trapped them a kilometer underground, Impala Platinum Holdings said today in a statement. All the bodies have been recovered.

The mine statement said the accident happened on Monday about 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) underground at a mine in Rustenberg, 100 kilometres north-west of Johannesburg.

Local reports said mining accidents kill about 200 people a year in South Africa, a major exporter of gold, diamonds, platinum and coal.

Accidents are common in South Africa's mines, which are some of the deepest in the world. A fire at an illegal mine has recently killed more than 80 people in the Free State mine.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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