Updated at 9:40 a.m., Thursday, October 4, 2007
All 3,200 trapped miners rescued in South Africa
Associated Press
CARLETONVILLE, South Africa — The last of 3,200 gold miners trapped more than a mile underground were brought safely to the surface Thursday night, ending one of South Africa's biggest rescue operations, mining officials said.The final workers emerged just after 9 p.m., according to the Harmony Gold Mining Co. No casualties were reported.
A pressurized air pipe snapped at the mine near Johannesburg and tumbled down a shaft Wednesday, causing extensive damage to an elevator and stranding the miners.
