Over 200 miners are reportedly trapped underground in an abandoned gold shaft near Benoni on the East Rand.

About 500 friends and family of the 29 men killed in a New Zealand mine explosion were on Saturday taken to "say goodbye" at the remote colliery.

New Zealand police said there were five foreign nationals — including a South African — among the 29 people missing after a mine explosion.

New Zealand rescuers had still not made contact with 29 trapped miners on Saturday, almost 24 hours after an explosion ripped through a colliery.

Chile was looking at ways on Saturday to speed up the rescue of 33 miners trapped deep underground for 23 days.

Chilean health officials are seeking advice from Nasa on how the 33 miners trapped underground can remain sane and healthy.

Rescue workers on Monday reinforced a small drill hole to serve as an umbilical cord to 33 miners found alive 17 days after a cave-in in Chile.

Hopes were fading on Monday of finding alive any of the 58 miners still trapped deep inside Russia’s largest underground coal mine.

Hundreds of rescuers in northern China are battling to reach 21 miners trapped after a huge gas explosion killed at least 104 of their colleagues.