An operation is underway to rescue miners trapped in a gold mine in South Africa | Mining News

The group Mining Affected Communities United for Action says at least 400 men remain trapped in the abandoned mine, with many believed to have died.

Rescuers lifted illegal miners and several bodies from an abandoned place Gold mine in South Africaas reports emerged that hundreds may be trapped and that at least 100 people may have already died.

A professional mine rescue company sent a large cage into the mine near Stilfontein, about 140 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Johannesburg, on Monday.

“We can assure you that the machine is working. He has raised seven people,” Mzukisi Jam, of the South African National Civic Educational Organization (SANCO), told reporters at the mine.

At least four bodies were also recovered, according to community leader Johannes Kankasi.

Sabelo Mnguni, spokesman for the Mining Affected Communities United Action Group (MACUA), said the mobile phone sent to the surface with some of the rescued miners on Friday contained two video clips showing… Dozens of bodies underground Wrapped in plastic.

Mnguni said at least 100 men died in the mine, where police first launched an operation in November to force miners to withdraw from the illegal operation. Mnguni said he suspected the miners died of starvation or died of dehydration.

He added that nine bodies were recovered in a community-led operation on Friday. Mnguni said that nine others were recovered in an official rescue operation carried out by the authorities on Monday, and 26 survivors were also recovered.

South African police spokesman Sabata Mokguabon said they were still verifying information regarding the number of bodies recovered and the number of survivors taken out after launching a new rescue operation.

Authorities now hope to extract all survivors from the mine.

The mine has been the scene of a standoff between police and miners since authorities first tried to remove the men and close the mine two months ago.

Police said the miners were refusing to exit the Bavelsfontein gold mine for fear of arrest, but MACUA’s Mnguni said they were left trapped underground after police removed the ropes and pulley system the miners used to climb into and out of the mine.

“The shaft is 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) deep. It is impossible for people to climb,” said Magnificent Mendebele of MACUA.

South Africa’s Sunday Times reported that the company leading the rescue effort had designed a special cage that could be lowered up to 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) into the mine shaft and that the rescue operation – if all went as planned – would take 16 days.

MACUA won a lawsuit last December, ordering police and regional authorities to allow food, water and medicine to be sent to the miners.

Illegal mining is common in gold-rich parts of South Africa, with companies closing mines that are no longer profitable, leaving groups of informal miners entering them illegally to try to find remaining deposits.

Large groups of illegal miners often resort to working underground for months to maximize profits, taking with them food, water, power generators and other equipment, but they also rely on others on the surface to send more supplies.

Police said they were not sure exactly how many illegal miners were still underground, but said it was likely in the hundreds.

South African authorities have long tried to crack down on illegal mining gangs, known as “Zama Zamas” – which means “crooks” in Zulu – and are notorious for being violent, often armed and part of criminal gangs.

MACUA’s Mnguni said this particular group of trapped miners were not criminals, but were former mine employees who were thrown out of work when the mines closed, and left desperate.

“The miners return to the mine because they live in poverty,” he said.