Operation Under Way to Rescue Trapped Miners from South African Gold Mine

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  Rescuers have hoisted illegal miners and several bodies from an abandoned gold mine in South Africa, where reports emerge that hundreds may be trapped and at least 100 may have already died.

A professional mine rescue company sent a large cage into the mine shaft near Stilfontein, about 140km (90 miles) southwest of Johannesburg, on Monday.

 “We can confirm to you that the machine is working. It has brought up seven people,” Mzukisi Jam, of the South African National Civics Organisation (SANCO), told reporters at the mine.

At least four bodies were also retrieved, according to community leader Johannes Qankase.

Sabelo Mnguni, a spokesman for the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) group, said that a mobile phone sent to the surface with some rescued miners on Friday had two videos on it showing dozens of bodies underground wrapped in plastic.

Mnguni said “a minimum” of 100 men had died in the mine where police first launched an operation in November to force the miners out of the illegal operation. The miners are suspected to have starved to death or died of dehydration, Mnguni said.

 Courtesy: www.aljazeera.com