Around 950 miners were trapped underground in a gold mine in South Africa after a power outage, according to the mine operator.
The workers were stuck in the Beatrix gold mine near the city of Welkom, in central Free State.
Thunderstorms were blamed for bringing down power lines near the site, leaving the miners stranded in tunnels and shafts.
Around 60 of those trapped were rescued overnight but 950 are still trapped underground.
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James Wellsted, a spokesman for the site’s owner, Sibanye-Stilwater, told local media the miners were safe and were receiving food and water.
He said power was being restored but there was not yet enough to bring the miners to the surface.
“We’ve currently got generators there and we are trying to link them up to the hoist in order to bring the people to surface, but we are experiencing some difficulties with the circuit that may be linked to the surge relating to the storm and the power issue,” he said.
A spokeswoman for South Africa’s Mineral Resources Department said that health and safety inspectors were on site providing support.
South Africa produces around 10 per cent of the world’s gold and is home to its deepest mines, with workers often operating more than two miles beneath the surface.