More than 100 miners died after months trapped in disused shaft: reports

• A rescue mission is underway for hundreds of illegal miners believed to be trapped in a disused mineshaft in South Africa, according to reports.
• The Associated Press says more than 100 people died of starvation or dehydration
• According to the news agency, over 500 people are still believed to be underground due to the ongoing conflict with the authorities since last year

A rescue mission is reportedly underway for hundreds of illegal miners who are believed to have been trapped for months in an abandoned shaft in South Africa.

More than 100 people are believed to have died of starvation or dehydration, and at least 24 bodies and 34 survivors have been removed from the Buffelsfontein gold mine in the town of Stilfontein since Friday, Jan. 10, according to authorities Related press.

Mzukisi Jam, regional chairman of the South African National Civic Organization, said: “We are happy that this (rescue) operation is taking place, although we believe that if it had been carried out earlier, we would not have even had a single fatality.” According to the news agency, six bodies and eight survivors were found on Tuesday, January 14.

AP reports that over 500 miners are still underground.

Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) – a national movement representing and supporting the rights and interests of mine-affected communities across South Africa – said that “over 100 people died” in Facebook post on Sunday, January 12.

According to the AP, in December, MACUA took the authorities to court “to force them to allow the sending of food, water and medicine to miners.”

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) shared the video on the website Facebook showing the ongoing rescue operation in the mine.

According to the AP, relatives said some of the miners had been underground since July.

Zinzi Tom, the missing miner’s sister, said: “The last time I spoke to my brother was in July when he told us he was going underground,” the news agency reported.

“We haven’t heard anything from him, but yesterday one of the miners who came to the surface said he saw him about two weeks ago. He’s obviously very sick and struggling to survive,” Tom added.

According to BBCauthorities blocked food and water supplies to miners last year after they reportedly entered a shaft without permission.

DMRE told the agency that the rescue operation involved “lowering the cage” to raise it “after being loaded with people.” MACUA shared photos of the cage Facebook on Monday, January 13.

According to AP, the miners feared that they would be arrested after leaving the shaft. Some have been arrested since November, but the exact number has not been confirmed, the news agency reported.

On November 18, 2024, a message from the country’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, was released on the matter Website of the South African Presidency stated that “the Stilfontein dispute must be resolved peacefully and safely.”

“Illegal mining is a form of crime that has caused much anger and concern in communities,” the post said, adding: “For over a month, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other government agencies have been working together to resolve a situation where several hundred illegal miners are refusing to emerge from an abandoned mine. gold mine.”

“The police will exercise their duties and responsibilities to safely bring the illegal miners to the surface. “It will do everything in its power to reduce the risk of harm to miners and law enforcement officials,” the post continued, which stated that “over 1,000 miners have resurfaced and been arrested.”

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According to the AP, the mine where people are trapped is 2.5 miles deep, “has multiple shafts, multiple levels and is a maze of tunnels.” “It would take miners several days to make a dangerous trip to another shaft,” the website said.

MACUA, DMRE and the country’s presidential spokesman Cyril Ramaphosa did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE.

PEOPLE also tried to contact Police Minister Edward Senzo Mchunu via email, but his inbox was unable to accept any more messages.