As rescue operations continued, six bodies were recovered

Six more bodies have been recovered from a mine in South Africa, and efforts continue for a second day to help dozens of illegal miners still believed to be at least 2km underground, national NGO Sanco said. BBC.

Eight people survived on Tuesday, adding to the 26 rescued on Monday after being dragged down a disused mine shaft in a cage operated by a crane at the surface. Nine bodies were recovered on Monday.

The men have been hiding underground since police operations against illegal mining began across the country last year.

Last week, a court ordered the government to facilitate a long-delayed rescue operation.

There is a video in this story that some people may find disturbing.

Last year, arguing that miners entered the Stilfontein shaft intentionally and without permission, authorities took a tough stance, blocking food and water supplies.

In November, one government minister said: “We will burn them out.”

More than 100 illegal miners, known locally as “zama zamas”, have reportedly died underground since attacks began at the mine located about 145 km (90 miles) southwest of Johannesburg.

However, authorities did not confirm the figure because it had not yet been “verified by an official source,” a spokesman told the BBC.

On Monday, disturbing videos appeared online showing the tragic situation in a closed gold mine.

One of the videos, which the BBC has not independently verified, shows bodies wrapped in makeshift body bags. The second shows the emaciated silhouettes of some of the miners who are still alive.

Hundreds of them are believed to still be in the mine, with more than 1,000 having been brought to the surface in the last few months.

One of the videos published by the General Industries Workers of South Africa (Giwusa) trade union shows several dozen shirtless men sitting on a dirty floor. Their faces were blurred. A man’s voice is heard from behind the camera, saying that the men are hungry and need help.

“We are starting to show the bodies of those who died underground,” he says.

“And that’s not all of them. See how people fight? Please, we need help.”

In the second video, a man says: “This is famine, people are dying of hunger.” He then estimates the death toll at 96 and pleads for help, food and supplies.

The union claims the footage was shot on Saturday.

During a briefing held near the rescue site on Monday, Giwusa leaders and community representatives said the videos released “present a very grim picture” of the situation underground.

“What happened here should be called by its name. This is the Stilfontein massacre. Because this footage shows a pile of human bodies, miners who died unnecessarily,” said Mametlwe Sebei, president of Giwusa.

He blamed the authorities for what he called a “treacherous policy” pursued on purpose.

The Department of Mineral Resources, leading the rescue operation, told the BBC that Monday’s operation involved lowering a cage, which is then raised after being loaded with people.

According to Giwusa, this structure can accommodate six or seven people, depending on their weight. He fell down the shaft every hour.