More than 3,000 workers are trapped deep underground in a South African gold mine, officials have said.
More than 3,000 workers are trapped deep underground in a South African gold mine, officials have said.
A pipe broke, severing power cables to the lift and trapping workers at the bottom of a 2.2km (1.4 mile) shaft.
A broken pipe severed power cables to a lift and trapped workers at the bottom of a 2.2km (1.4 mile) shaft.
Rescuers are planning to use an adjacent shaft to lift them out, a spokeswoman for the mine's owner, Harmony Gold Mining, said.
Rescuers have now begun moving workers out through an adjacent shaft, but only 75 can be hauled clear at a time.
The accident happened at about 1000 (0800 GMT), some 80km (50 miles) west of Johannesburg.
The accident happened at about 1000 (0800 GMT) on Wednesday at Harmony Gold Mining Co's Elandsrand mine, some 80km (50 miles) west of Johannesburg.
The spokeswoman, Amelia Soares, told the BBC that no-one was injured and that the miners have access to water.
A spokeswoman for the company, Amelia Soares, told the BBC that paramedics had reached the miners and that none were injured in the accident.
She said the bottom of the shaft, where they are trapped, is well ventilated.
She said the bottom of the shaft, where they are trapped, is well ventilated and that the miners do have access to water.
Rescuers are in contact with the miners and planned to begin lifting them out very soon, she said.
The first group of 75 miners has been lifted out, company officials said, but rescuing all 3,200 will take some time - as only 300 people can be brought to the surface every hour.
However, it would take some time to bring out all the miners as only 300 could be lifted out every hour through the adjacent ventilation shaft, she added.
Maintenance questioned
Rescuers first need to reconfigure the lift in the ventilation shaft to carry the miners.
Ms Soares said a "compressed pipe column" fell down the mineshaft, damaging steel work in the shaft and cutting "electrical feeder cords connected to the lifts underground".
'Poor safety record'
Ms Soares said a "compressed pipe column" fell down the mineshaft, damaging steel work in the shaft and cutting electrical feeder cords connected to underground lifts underground".
The damage was only noticed late on Wednesday when miners working the day shift tried to surface from the deep shaft they were working in.
The damage was only noticed late on Wednesday when miners working the day shift tried to surface from the deep shaft they were working in.
ELANDSRAND GOLD MINE Elandsrand mine has 6.9 million ounces of proven reservesLocated 80km (50 miles) west of JohannesburgIt has two vertical shafts - a men/material shaft and a rock/ventilation shaftA new mine, to be finished by 2010, is being built under the existing mine, which is still in useHarmony Gold Mining bought the mine in 2001
ELANDSRAND GOLD MINE Elandsrand mine has 6.9 million ounces of proven reservesLocated 80km (50 miles) west of JohannesburgIt has two vertical shafts - a men/material shaft and a rock/ventilation shaftA new mine, to be finished by 2010, is being built under the existing mine, which is still in useHarmony Gold Mining bought the mine in 2001
She said there had been no collapse or cave-in and there was no risk of flooding.
There has been no collapse or cave-in and there was no risk of flooding, said Ms Soares.
However, a spokesman for South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers said they were extremely concerned for the miners' safety.
A spokesman for South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers said the mine shafts had not been properly maintained.
"We are, you know, losing hope because... from six o'clock in the morning up until now the miners might actually be suffocating," Lesiba Seshoka told the BBC.
"Our guys there tell us that they have raised concerns about the whole issue of maintenance of shafts with the mine, but they have not been attended to," Lesiba Seshoka told the Associated Press news agency.
"We are just crossing our fingers that something good will come out of this."
The Elandsrand mine is in the Witwatersrand Basin, which holds the world's largest gold deposit.
The Elandsrand mine is in the Witwatersrand Basin, which holds the world's largest gold deposit.
The mines there are among the deepest in the world.
The mines there are among the deepest in the world.
Gold remains important to South Africa's economy, says the BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg, but the industry has been in decline in recent years.
Gold remains important to South Africa's economy, says the BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg, but the industry has been in decline in recent years.
The current high price of gold is keeping many otherwise marginal mines open, our correspondent says.
The current high price of gold is keeping many otherwise marginal mines open, our correspondent says.
Mr Seshoka said South Africa's mines have a poor safety record, with about 200 workers said to have been killed in accidents in each of the last two years.
Mr Seshoka said South Africa's mines have a poor safety record, with about 200 workers said to have been killed in accidents in each of the last two years.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this accident, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this accident, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below.
