In Egypt's southern deserts, men arrive at dawn to start working in snowy-white limestone pits.
Throughout the day, the quarry workers cut stones with large machinery and sharp rotor blades. An estimated 45,000 people work in more than 1,500 quarries in Egypt, cutting and moving the bricks that will later be used in building construction throughout the country. Some of the limestone will also be powdered to be used by pharmaceutical and ceramic companies.
This type of work, however, is one of the deadliest jobs in Egypt. There is a high risk of amputation, electrocution and various respiratory and skin diseases, according to The Guardian.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press