LUSAKA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Three miners were killed by a fire on Thursday at an underground mine owned by Mopani Copper Mines, the mining firm said on Friday.

The mining firm, a unit of Glencore, said three of its miners died after an underground fire at its Mindolo north shaft in Kitwe city on the Copperbelt Province.

Nebert Mulenga, a company spokesperson, said the accident happened on Thursday in the afternoon after a loader caught fire.

All operations at the shaft have since been suspended until further notice, he added.

The mining firm, he said, was working with the Mining Safety Department and other relevant authorities in investigating the tragic accident.

Local media quoted the police saying the miners died of suffocation due to the smoke from the loader while another miner was admitted to a local hospital after he escaped through the fire and sustained facial burns.