Rescue efforts continue for more than 500 miners trapped in South Africa

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

EFFORTS TO RESCUE MORE THAN 500 WORKERS TRAPPED IN ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S DEEPEST MINES CONTINUED TUESDAY AS MORE THAN 100 MINERS HAVE REPORTEDLY DIED FROM DEHYDRATION AND STARVATION.

THE WORKERS HAVE BEEN INSIDE THE MILE AND A HALF DEEP MINE SOUTHWEST OF JOHANNESBURG, FOR MONTHS, WITH SOME MINERS BEING UNDERGROUND AS FAR BACK AS JULY OR AUGUST OF LAST YEAR.

IN NOVEMBER, AUTHORITIES TRIED TO FORCE WORKERS OUT AMID A TENSE STANDOFF WITH POLICE, LOCALS AND THE MINERS.

LAW ENFORCEMENT SAYS THE MINERS ARE ABLE TO COME OUT BUT REFUSE TO, BUT HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS DISPUTE THAT NOTION.

THE GROUPS ACCUSING AUTHORITIES OF CUTTING OFF FOOD AND WATER SUPPLIES TO THE WORKERS TO FORCE THEM OUT.

ACTIVISTS SAY MANY OF THE MINERS ARE DYING OF STARVATION OR UNABLE TO CLIMB OUT BECAUSE THE MINE IS TOO STEEP AND THE PULLEY SYSTEM HAS BEEN REMOVED.

OFFICIALS SAY AT LEAST 18 BODIES HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE MINE AND 26 SURVIVORS HAVE BEEN RESCUED.

ILLEGAL MINING IS RAMPANT IN PARTS OF SOUTH AFRICA WHERE GOLD IS ABUNDANT.

MANY PEOPLE ENTER CLOSED DOWN MINES FOR MONTHS IN SEARCH OF LEFTOVER GOLD DEPOSITS.

A SOUTH AFRICAN CABINET MINISTER SAID IN NOVEMBER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT HELP ILLEGAL MINERS BECAUSE THEY CONSIDERED THEM “CRIMINALS.”

INSTEAD, SUGGESTING TO QUOTE: “SMOKE THEM OUT.”

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