World

100 Dead in South African Mine Tragedy

"Illegal mining in abandoned gold mine leads to tragic loss of lives; rescue efforts continue."

At least 100 miners have died in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa, where illegal mining operations were taking place. The miners had been trapped underground for months, and despite ongoing rescue efforts, their lives could not be saved. A miners’ group reported that the death toll could exceed 100.

According to Sabelo Manguni, a spokesperson for the miners’ community, videos sent via a mobile phone from inside the mine show dozens of bodies lying wrapped in plastic. The incident occurred in the North West province of South Africa. Police first launched rescue operations in November, suspecting the miners may have died due to starvation or dehydration. So far, 18 bodies have been recovered, with another 9 extracted by the miners’ community. Additionally, after significant effort, 26 individuals have been rescued.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Sebata Mogwabone stated that efforts are still underway to determine the exact number of casualties and survivors. The challenge remains to recover all the bodies trapped inside.

In South Africa, abandoned gold mines often attract illegal miners who hope to find leftover gold deposits. This dangerous practice has led to several tragic accidents in the past. Many miners, driven by desperation, risk their lives in search of any remaining gold overlooked by mining companies. Questions have been raised about why these mines are left open and unsecured.

The videos received from inside the mine show a harrowing scene, with piles of bodies and a few survivors waiting for help. Reports suggest that authorities had previously warned miners not to enter the abandoned site, but they ignored the warnings, resulting in this tragic disaster.

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