Twenty-seven trapped in Australian mine
AFP
Sat November 17, 2007
SYDNEY, Australia - A gold mine collapsed in Australia early Monday, trapping 27 workers underground, police said.
The miners were believed to be unhurt and had gathered in a safety chamber one kilometre (0.6 miles) underground, with 30 hours of oxygen available.
One of the miners was using his mobile phone to maintain contact with rescuers, said police spokesperson Leigh Wadeson.
"We've spoken to the Ballarat communications centre and they've been in contact with a miner on a mobile phone," Wadeson said.
"He is confident that there are no injuries and he's accounted for the 27 men underground."
Rescuers were considering two possible exit points from the mine at Mount Clear, 10 kilometres south-east of Ballarat in Victoria state, Wadeson said.
The mine is owned by Lihir Gold Limited.
Last month, 54 Australian gold miners were safely brought to the surface after being trapped underground when a fire broke out at the Kanowna Belle mine run by Barrick Gold Corp near the Western Australian city of Kalgoorlie.
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