The rescue operation in the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine has concluded, revealing a horrifying death toll of at least 87 miners trapped underground. The incident has sparked intense criticism of authorities for their initial response and handling of the situation.
The death toll from a months-long standoff between police and miners trapped in an abandoned South African gold mine has tragically climbed to at least 87, authorities announced Thursday. The grim discovery came after a court-ordered rescue operation that saw 78 bodies recovered from the depths of the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine, alongside 246 survivors who were pulled from the perilous subterranean environment.
Nine additional bodies had been recovered prior to the official rescue effort, but details surrounding their deaths remain unconfirmed. This devastating event has sparked intense criticism of South African authorities for their initial handling of the situation. Community groups, who launched their own rescue attempts last year when authorities refused to assist the hundreds of miners deemed 'criminals,' have condemned the police and mine owners for cutting off food supplies and dismantling crucial access points. The tactic, dubbed 'smoking them out' by a prominent Cabinet minister, was met with widespread condemnation, including from one of South Africa's largest trade unions. The miners, suspected of succumbing to starvation and dehydration, were reportedly working illegally in the abandoned mine near Stilfontein, southwest of Johannesburg, since August last year. Most resurfaced independently over the past few months, but the harrowing ordeal of those who remained underground, depicted by community members pulling out decomposing bodies with pleas for food, highlights the desperate situation. Local community leaders have called for accountability, stating that an earlier police intervention could have prevented this tragic outcome. South Africa's second-largest political party, part of the ruling coalition, has demanded an independent inquiry into the incident, urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate why the situation escalated to such a catastrophic level. The mine, a labyrinth of tunnels and shafts extending up to 1.5 miles underground, continues to serve as a stark reminder of the dangers and consequences of illegal mining in South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA GOLD MINE DEATH TOLL RESCUE OPERATION ILLEGAL MINING POLICE CRITICISM
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