Earthquake Kills 9 In S. African Mine

A minor earthquake set off an underground rock slide, killing at least nine people and leaving nine missing Tuesday in a South African gold mine.

The 3.7-magnitude tremor rattled the Hartebeestfontein gold mine, 110 miles southwest of Johannesburg, Monday night, said Julian Gwillim, spokesman for mine operator Avgold Limited.

Thirty miners were taken to a local hospital and another 46 were treated for minor injuries at a mine medical station, Gwillim said.

Mine officials said late Tuesday they were losing hope of finding any of the missing men alive.

South Africa is the world’s leading gold producer and has some of the deepest mines.