All trapped S African miners are safe

The last of the 3,200 miners trapped for more than 24 hours in a South African gold mine have been brought safely to the surface.

They emerged from the Elandsrand gold mine to applause from their waiting colleagues.

The miners became trapped after a pipe of pressurised air exploded and crashed into a shaft, cutting off electricity to the main elevator.

Despite the long ordeal, a spokeswoman for mine owner Harmony Gold Mining Company said that only one person was treated for dehydration and that there were no other casualties.

She said the final group of 45 miners were exhausted but otherwise in good health.

Some of the miners had been stranded more than a mile underground since Tuesday.

Joyful reunions were mixed with anger, fear and renewed concern about safety standards in a country that is the world's largest gold producer.

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