Hundreds of miners trapped in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa are still without food or water, with over 100 believed to have died from starvation or dehydration. The situation has sparked intense criticism from authorities and rights groups.
Police launched an operation in November to force out the miners by cutting off their supplies, but many are refusing to come out due to fear of arrest. However, groups representing the miners claim they are trapped up to 2.5 kilometers below the surface and a proper rescue operation should have started months ago.
The miners’ plight is a common issue in South Africa where abandoned mines pose a significant challenge. Many informal miners enter these closed-off areas to find leftover deposits, often relying on community support for food, water, and equipment.
Critics say authorities used an aggressive tactic to force the miners out last year, but this was later criticized by rights groups, who won a court case forcing police to allow supplies to be sent down. However, concerns remain that the supplies are insufficient for those still trapped.
Several survivors have emerged in recent months, with some arrested upon their return to the surface. The rescue effort is ongoing, with community-led efforts bringing out survivors and bodies, while authorities launch an official recovery operation using a cage lowered into the mine.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-miners-trapped-explainer-53fb1226e9b5151a0a4ce2064168f84a