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One hundred illegal miners have reportedly died after being trapped for months in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa’s North West province.
Authorities have been working to recover the bodies and rescue survivors, with police launching an operation in November to evict miners from the site.
Sabelo Mnguni, a spokesperson for communities affected by mining, told the Associated Press on Monday that some miners who were rescued on Friday sent a cellphone to the surface containing two videos. The footage allegedly shows multiple bodies wrapped in plastic deep underground.
“Approximately 100 people died in the mine where police initiated an operation in November to force the miners out,” Mnguni said. He added that the victims are believed to have died from hunger or dehydration.
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So far, 18 bodies have been retrieved from the mine since Friday, Mnguni reported.
Brigadier Sebata Mokgwabone, a police spokesperson, confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine the total number of fatalities and survivors. The rescue operation officially began on Monday, with further updates expected as authorities continue their work.
The tragedy sheds light on the risks faced by illegal miners, known locally as “zama zamas,” who often work under dangerous and unregulated conditions in South Africa’s abandoned mines.
