"There is a smoke emission as equipment got on fire 852 kilometres [529 miles] underground. We are acting according to the instructions, so all employees are in a shelter, and emergency services are working on site", Jenny Gotthardsson, the mine's representative told reporters.
At the same time, Swedish police data, cited by the Sveriges Television broadcaster, says that there are currently from 70 to 80 people in the mine.
The mine is equipped with 46 shelters, which have enough oxygen to last 239 people for eight hours.