20 miners trapped by fire in Canada potash mine

A fire at a potash mine in Canada's western Saskatchewan province on Tuesday trapped 20 miners underground, the company said. Potash Corporation official Dale Stangeland told AFP the miners took refuge at an emergency station deep inside the mine, and are not in any immediate danger as crews battle the fire. He said nine others were also underground when a cable reel in the mine caught fire but escaped to the surface. "Emergency response procedures were initiated and mine rescue teams were dispatched," Stangeland said. "Communication with the underground employees is ongoing." "And mine rescue teams continue to work to extinguish the fire," he said. The mine is about 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the provincial capital Regina. Potash Corporation is the world's largest producer of the potassium compound used as a fertilizer.