At least 100 people who were mining illegally in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa have died after being trapped deep underground for months while police tried to get them out, a group representing the miners said on Monday.
More than 100 people have died after being trapped for months beneath an abandoned mine in South Africa.
The men had been illegally mining in an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein, in the north west of the country, when they became trapped in a standoff in November. Authorities surrounded the mine in a bid to force them out and arrest them, with “a minimum of 100” said to have perished after becoming trapped through fear of coming out and being arrested.
Reports emerged on Monday that a mobile phone sent to the surface three days ago had two videos on it depicting dozens of bodies underground wrapped in plastic. Sabelo Mnguni, a spokesman for the Mining Affected Communities United in Action Group, said the men died of starvation and dehydration.
Some 18 bodies have been recovered since Friday, Mr Mnguni told Associated Press. Police spokesperson Brig. Sebata Mokgwabone said they were still verifying information on how many bodies had been recovered and how many survivors brought out after starting a new rescue operation on Monday.
Authorities in South Africa have taken an extremely tough line on illegal mining in the country, with the issue having become a widespread problem. Officials initially cut off food and water supplies to the mine to force many of them out, Al Jazeera reported.
A judge at Pretoria’s High Court later ordered that the miners be given supplies and that emergency operations should be allowed. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe told reporters at the time: “We are not blocking anyone from resurfacing … our responsibility here is to combat any illegal activities. We have allowed food and water to go down so that they can regain their strength and resurface.”
