Rescuers Continue Operations at the Abandoned South African Gold Mine

Rescuers Continue Operations at the Abandoned South African Gold Mine

Rescuers at an abandoned gold mine in South Africa have uncovered at least 60 remains as they continue their mission. As of Tuesday evening, authorities reported that more than 90 individuals had been rescued. Hundreds more are thought to be beneath the ground, many of them dead or too feeble to escape on their own.

In November, officials cut off supplies from the surface for a period of time in an attempt to drive away illicit miners. Police urge that miners can come out, but many refuse for fear of being arrested. A community-led rescue attempt began on Friday, while authorities launched the formal rescue operation on Monday, utilising a cage lowered underground.

Official rescue personnel are not descending into the mine because it is too risky. South Africa’s precious metals industry has long struggled with illegal mining, which is believed to cost the government and industry hundreds of millions of dollars each year. The South African government has claimed that the mine’s siege was necessary to address the illegal activity, which Mining Minister Gwede Mantashe described as “a war on the economy”. Meanwhile, rights groups have condemned the crackdown.

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