Fire traps 8 workers in Swedish mine

Eight building workers have been trapped in an underground safety chamber following a fire in an iron ore mine in northern Sweden…

Eight building workers have been trapped in an underground safety chamber following a fire in an iron ore mine in northern Sweden.

Ola Johnsson, chief executive of Swedish state mining firm LKAB, told Reuters the contract workers were in a ventilated chamber 1,250 metres below ground.

They are not in danger and are expected to be rescued once firefighters deal with the blaze less than 200 metres above them.

"They have full air," Johnsson said. "They are only waiting now to get picked up by the fire department."

Mining operations were shut down about 4 p.m.

The workers had been building new transport facilities, Johnsson said.

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