Hundreds of people, including survivors and the deceased, were rescued from an abandoned South African mine, while dozens more remain trapped underground.

Rescuers retrieved dozens of bodies and weak survivors from an abandoned gold mine in South Africa, where authorities had cut off supplies months earlier, with hundreds more believed to be dead or too weak to escape on their own.

Since Monday, over 60 bodies and 92 survivors have been retrieved from one of South Africa's deepest mines using a red cagelike device lowered thousands of feet underground, according to police. However, the exact number of miners still trapped inside is unknown, but it is believed to be in the hundreds. Nine more bodies were extracted on Friday as part of a community-led rescue effort, as reported by a group representing the miners.

Since November, the mine has been the site of a tense standoff between police, miners, and members of the local community, with authorities cutting off food and water to force the miners out. At the time, a Cabinet minister stated that the goal was to "smoke them out" and that the government would not provide assistance because they were "criminals."

The South African government is facing criticism from civic groups and the community over its handling of the issue at the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine, where more than 100 miners are believed to have died underground due to starvation or dehydration, according to the group representing them.

The authorities removed the ropes and pulley system used by miners to enter and lower supplies, claiming that the survivors can exit but refuse to due to fear of arrest. However, civic groups have disputed this claim and won a court case to allow food, water, and medicine to be sent down to the miners. Despite this, the groups argue that the supplies are insufficient, and many miners are dying of starvation and unable to climb out due to the steep shaft.

The residents of Stilfontein are anxiously awaiting updates on their loved ones who were gathered at the mine on Tuesday. Some of them are holding protest signs, accusing the authorities of their poor handling of the situation. One sign reads, "Sacrifice at Stilfontein," while handcuffed survivors are being escorted away by police in a line.

The community launched its own rescue operation on Friday, while authorities began their official effort on Monday. Some say a rescue operation should have been initiated months ago.

Mzukisi Jam, the regional chairperson of the South African National Civics Organization, stated that although they are pleased with the operation, they believe that if it had been done earlier, there would be no fatalities.

Authorities have grappled with informal mining for years

In some areas of South Africa, where gold mines are abundant, companies shut down their operations when they become unprofitable, resulting in informal miners entering these mines illegally in pursuit of remaining deposits.

Miners frequently descend into the earth for extended periods to increase their earnings, bringing along provisions, water, generators, and other necessary equipment. However, they also depend on their surface companions to deliver additional supplies.

On Tuesday, Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe visited the site and stated that over 1,500 miners who emerged from the Buffelsfontein mine have been arrested since the authorities launched a larger crackdown on illegal mining in late 2023. He added that the majority of them were foreign nationals from neighboring countries.

The police have intensified their claim that the miners who remain underground are refusing to emerge due to fear of arrest.

The only way out of the mine is for miners to make a perilous journey to another shaft, which can take days, and crawl out there, but many are too weak or sick to climb out. The mine is 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) deep with multiple shafts, many levels, and a complex network of tunnels. The miners' union stated that there are various groups located in different areas of the mine.

"Zinzi Tom, a sister of one of the miners who remained underground, stated that the last time she spoke to her brother was in July, when he informed them that he was going underground. Since then, they had not heard anything from him. However, yesterday, one of the miners who surfaced said he saw her brother about two weeks ago. It appears that he is extremely ill and is having a difficult time surviving underground."

Cellphone videos emerge from underground

The Mining Affected Communities United in Action group, which sued authorities in December to allow supplies to be sent to the miners, released two cellphone videos in January that they claimed were from underground and depicted dozens of dead miners wrapped in plastic. A spokesperson for the group stated that at least 100 miners had died.

A man recorded videos on his cellphone from the depths of the mine, where he can be heard saying, "These are the effects of hunger. People are dying because of it," as he filmed emaciated-looking men sitting on the damp floor. He also pleaded, "Please help us. Bring us food or take us out."

Authorities will reassess the rescue operation after 10 days, and survivors who were rescued will be arrested and charged with illegal mining and trespassing after receiving medical attention, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu stated.

In November, South African Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni informed reporters that the government would not provide assistance to miners, whom they classify as criminals.

""We will smoke out criminals and they will come out," she said."

Criminals should be persecuted, not helped.