The body of a worker killed by a rockfall inside a Co Tipperary mine will not be recovered until tomorrow night at earliest.
Father-of-two Mario Francis, who is from the Philippines, was buried in a loader he had been operating in a shaft at Lisheen Mine on Thursday evening.
He had worked for the company for 12 years.
A mine rescue team and the emergency services are trying to safely move the remains to the surface.
A company spokesman confirmed Mr Francis’ body would not be recovered until tomorrow night at the earliest.
Search teams, local garda officers and members of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) remain at the scene as investigations continue.
The Lisheen Mine is a lead and zinc mine between the villages of Moyne and Templetuohy in north Tipperary.
It employs about 370 people and is part of the Vedanta Resources Group.
It said the rockfall was a localised incident and no other worker was injured.
Siptu trade union has paid tribute to Mr Francis, who was in his 40’s, and sympathised with his family and friends.
PA