Stockholm  - Rescue was on the way late Thursday for eight Swedish miners left in a special emergency cage 1,250 metres below ground after an ore mine fire in the northern town of Kiruna.

A spokeswoman for the LKAB mine said the men were installed in a safety chamber and this would be brought to the surface as soon as the fire had been put out. They were in contact with the surface.

The fire broke out in an underground vehicle. Some 40 people were nearby at the time. No one was reported injured. (dpa)