Families Wait in Fear as Rescuers Pull Bodies and Survivors from a South African Mine
According to BBC reports, rescuers in South Africa have been busy pulling survivors and bodies out of an old gold mine in Stilfontein. So far, 82 miners have been rescued alive, but sadly, 36 dead bodies have also been recovered. The miners were trapped about 2km (1.2 miles) underground, and many of them looked weak and thin, wearing torn clothes and no shoes. Some of the bodies were so light that they needed only one person to carry them.
The trapped miners are illegal workers, locally known as “zama zamas,” who search for gold in abandoned mines. BBC notes that since last year, when police started cracking down on illegal mining, more than 100 zama zamas have reportedly died, although officials have not confirmed this number yet.
Family members waiting outside the mine have grown frustrated, holding signs and pleading with authorities to speed up the rescue. BBC interviewed Zinzi Tom, whose 29-year-old brother Ayanda has been underground since June. She said Ayanda went into the mine because he was jobless and desperate to earn money. Although they warned him against it, she now only wants to get him out alive. “I need to stay strong for him because he needs me more than ever,” she told BBC.
Tensions rose when government officials arrived at the scene. People are angry because they believe the government’s harsh measures against illegal mining, including blocking food and water supplies, made things worse. BBC reports that last week, a court ordered the government to start a rescue mission after delays caused by the strict crackdown.
During a press conference, Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe defended the government’s approach, saying illegal mining is a crime that harms the economy. According to BBC, he also pointed out that in 2024, the illegal trade of precious metals was estimated to be worth $2.4 billion.
Meanwhile, volunteers working with Sanco, a national NGO, have been helping rescue efforts by sending food and water down the mine. They also prioritized recovering dead bodies before they become too decomposed for families to identify.
Disturbing videos shared online, though not verified by the BBC, show some of the terrible conditions underground—dead bodies wrapped in makeshift bags and weak miners struggling to survive. Many believe the government could have acted sooner to prevent so many deaths.
BBC’s ongoing coverage highlights how desperation for survival drives illegal miners into such dangerous situations and raises concerns about how both the miners and the economy are affected by this risky trade. Families waiting for news at the site continue to hope that more lives can be saved before it’s too late.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5g2700346o