Sibanye-Stillwater reported that nearly a third of the 260 miners trapped underground following an accident at its Kloof gold mine had been brought to the surface by Friday. A senior union official confirmed that there were no injuries.

The miners were trapped after the hoist system, which provides access to a shaft at the Kloof gold mine, was damaged in an accident on Thursday. The Kloof gold mine, one of Sibanye’s deepest, is located approximately 37 miles from the surface.

Sibanye stated that 79 employees had been brought to the surface by 1:30 p.m. local time as part of the initial phase of the rescue operation.

“The remaining 181 employees have been provided with food and will be hoisted to surface as soon as it is safe to do so,” the company said.

A company spokesperson told Reuters on Friday afternoon that the extraction process was expected to be completed “soon.”

National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Health and Safety Chairperson Duncan Luvuno informed journalists at the site that “Fortunately there were no fatalities or injuries. But for 24 hours people were not eating or drinking anything. This is not adequate. Some have chronic diseases.”

Security guards restricted journalists from approaching the mine shaft, but a Reuters reporter observed some of the miners, appearing tired but healthy, walking to the company grounds’ perimeter to board buses.

Relatives of the miners still underground expressed shock and worry.

“I haven’t slept a wink,” said Mamodise Mokone, whose husband is among the miners. “I just want to tell the management or whoever is in charge: I just want my husband out alive.”

Sibanye had earlier stated that all the workers were safe following a “shaft incident” in the Kloof 7 shaft and were gathered at an assembly point while rescue efforts were underway.

Johannesburg-based Sibanye is one of the few South African mining companies still profiting from some of the world’s deepest and most expensive gold mines. Sibanye is currently mining for gold at depths of approximately two miles at the Kloof 7 shaft.

The Kloof mine, which accounts for 14% of Sibanye’s total gold production, operates two other shafts. The company also mines platinum-group metals in South Africa.

Mining accidents are relatively common in South Africa, particularly in numerous abandoned mines that have been taken over by illegal miners.

Earlier this year, at least 78 bodies were recovered from an illegal gold mine after police cut off food and water supplies for months in an attempt to curb illegal mining.

“`