Some 850 miners remained trapped more than a mile underground in a South African gold mine shaft today after a day-long rescue effort.
The last of the 3,200 stranded when the electricity cable of the mine's main lift was severed were expected to be lifted out by 5pm Irish time, nearly 36 hours after the accident.
Up to 200 women were among those who were stuck in a cramped space in the mine where temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius.
The accident at the Elandsrand mine prompted the government to order Harmony Gold, the world's fifth biggest gold miner, to shut down operations at the mine for six weeks.
Harmony Gold said the rescue operation was going smoothly and those underground were being pumped clean air and water but some of those who emerged complained about not receiving supplies.
And the mine's general manager, Stan Bierschenk, said the morale of workers still stuck below ground was "fairly brittle".
The miners were caught after an air pipe broke off and hurtled down the shaft, damaging steelwork and severing an electrical cable carrying power to the main lift.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) blamed poor safety standards and Harmony's practice of mining 24 hours a day.
The company rejected the claim.
South African gold mines are the deepest in the world and unions have often criticised companies for not doing enough to ensure workers' safety.