Rescue workers at a South African gold mine say they have recovered eight bodies after a fire and rock fall.

One other miner remains missing at the Doornkop mine west of Johannesburg, the government said.

Earlier, eight other miners were found in an underground refuge chamber and brought to the surface, mine owners Harmony Gold said.

The fire began on Tuesday evening about 1,700m (5,600ft) below ground. The cause of the blaze is not yet clear.

Eric Gcilitshana of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said the bodies had been discovered on Wednesday evening.

"This is a very sad moment for us in the NUM. Our hearts go out to the families of the deceased," he was quoted as saying in The Star newspaper.

Mine officials said that the rescuers had been struggling to access the affected area because of smoke and falling rocks.