Death toll rises to 60 in South African illegal mine tragedy

The number of bodies recovered from an abandoned mine in Stilfontein, located in northern South Africa, has risen to 60 as search and rescue operations continue. 

On January 14, authorities discovered 51 bodies. South African police also confirmed the arrest of 106 miners who had been rescued during the operation, Caliber.Az reports via Times Live.

Commenting on the incident, South African Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said: “These individuals who descended into the mine illegally are criminals and should be arrested.”

Earlier, South African police spokesperson Athlenda Mate reported that, as of 14 January, 27 bodies had been retrieved, and 83 individuals had been evacuated and subsequently arrested.

When the rescue operation began on January 13, initial estimates suggested there were 109 deceased individuals and approximately 500 people still alive within the mine. The abandoned mine, with a depth of 2.5 kilometres, became a scene of tragedy as some of the miners reportedly fell to their deaths while attempting to escape on their own.

The police, with support from the military, initiated a blockade of the Stilfontein mine in mid-October. They demanded that those trapped underground return to the surface. To enforce compliance, security forces restricted the delivery of essential supplies such as food, water, and fuel to the mine.

Since the blockade began, over 1,500 people have been assisted in exiting the mine. Volunteers played a crucial role, using ropes to help extract the miners. All those rescued have been arrested and are under investigation. Some individuals have already received prison sentences of six months, while others — identified as illegal migrants — are awaiting deportation.

Reports indicate that many of these miners had remained underground for several months without surfacing. Police experts are now conducting investigations to determine the causes of the fatalities, which include injuries sustained by miners attempting to escape the mine unaided.

By Tamilla Hasanova