Eight Miners Die in Fire at Harmony Gold in South Africa

Harmony Gold Mining Co. said eight workers are dead and one missing after a rockfall triggered a blaze more than a mile underground at its Doornkop site in South Africa’s worst gold company accident for 5 1/2 years.

“The seismic event created the fall of ground, which in turn damaged the cable, which sparked the fire,” Chief Executive Officer Graham Briggs said in a telephone interview. “The fire is what’s the dangerous thing because it contaminates the atmosphere: gases and smoke.”