An illegal miner rescued from an abandoned gold mine is assisted by rescuers and South African Police Service (SAPS) officers in Stilfontein on January 14, 2025. Christian Velcich, AFP

An illegal miner rescued from an abandoned gold mine is assisted by rescuers and South African Police Service (SAPS) officers in Stilfontein on January 14, 2025. More than two dozen illegal miners have been rescued and at least 15 bodies recovered from an abandoned gold mine in South Africa, as operations continued on January 14, 2025 to reach potentially dozens more people who have been underground for months. (Photo by Christian Velcich / AFP)

SOUTH AFRICA

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736958261091AFP__20250114__36TU8QR__v1__Preview__SafricaMining.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="An illegal miner rescued from an abandoned gold mine is assisted by rescuers and South African Police Service (SAPS) officers in Stilfontein on January 14, 2025. Christian Velcich, AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">An illegal miner rescued from an abandoned gold mine is assisted by rescuers and South African Police Service (SAPS) officers in Stilfontein on January 14, 2025. <em>Christian Velcich, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Rescuers pulled more bodies from a disused gold shaft in South Africa where the toll climbed to 78 Wednesday as police try to clear out illegal miners who have been underground for months.</p><p>Authorities began trying to remove the bodies and bring up survivors on Monday, after residents voiced fears that over 100 people may have died in the mine in Stilfontein, about 140 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Johannesburg.</p><p>At least 216 people have emerged alive in the first three days of the operation while 78 bodies were retrieved, police said in a statement.</p><p>All 84 of the miners rescued on Wednesday were arrested, police said.</p><p>The mine runs 2.6 kilometers underground and a specialized machine was brought in Monday to lift out the miners and the bodies, a handful of people at a time.</p><p>South Africans call these miners &quot;zama zamas&quot; -- &quot;those who try&quot; in the Zulu language. They are often migrants from neighboring countries, accused by residents of criminality.</p><p>Police have voiced fears that hundreds more could remain underground, but at a visit to the site Tuesday, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu declined to estimate how many might be there.</p><p>&quot;There is no way on earth anyone can come and say: &#x27;I know for certain that there are so many&#x27;,&quot; he said. &quot;Every number that we have here is an estimate, is a guess.&quot;</p><p>A video sent to AFP on Monday by Macua, a group that advocates for the miners, appeared to show dozens of corpses wrapped in cloth in the mine chambers.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/14/dozens-rescued-15-bodies-pulled-from-south-africa-mine-0047">READ: Dozens rescued, 15 bodies pulled from South Africa mine</a></div><div><strong>- Gold, explosives confiscated -</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABTGfzdQtQXUuCiC&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script><p>Illegal miners had taken over the shaft that was once part of South Africa&#x27;s vast mining industry.</p><p>No longer viable for commercial mining, the men entered illicitly, hoping to ease their poverty by finding remnants of gold.</p><p>Minerals Minister Gwede Mantashe, on a visit to the site Tuesday, called the miners &quot;foot soldiers&quot; for those who really profit from the illegal trade.</p><p>More than 1,500 illegal miners have been arrested at Stilfontein since August, when authorities first started to remove them. South Africa has deported 121 of them, police said.</p><p>Another 46 people have been convicted of illegal mining, trespassing and immigration act offences, police said. They face fines or prison terms.</p><p>Police also confiscated a trove of gold, explosives and firearms.</p><p>Authorities had at one point tried cutting off food and water supplies to the mine, to force out the miners. But a court ordered in November that police must end all restrictions at the shaft, allowing people above ground to resume lowering food and water to those below.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>Rescuers pulled more bodies from a disused gold shaft in South Africa where the toll climbed to 78 Wednesday as police try to clear out illegal miners who have been underground for months.</p>

Rescuers pulled more bodies from a disused gold shaft in South Africa where the toll climbed to 78 Wednesday as police try to clear out illegal miners who have been underground for months.

Death toll at illegal South African mine reaches 78 | ABS-CBN

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Death toll at illegal South African mine reaches 78

Death toll at illegal South African mine reaches 78

Agence France-Presse

Published Jan 16, 2025 02:02 AM PHT

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South Africa

Stilfontein

gold mine

illegal mining

Johannesburg

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