STIERFONTAIN, South Africa — Rescuers brought dozens of bodies and emaciated survivors to the surface on Tuesday, months after South African authorities initially cut off supplies to miners working illegally in an abandoned gold mine, according to reports. Hundreds of people are still underground, many dead and others too weak to make it out on their own.

At least 60 bodies and 92 survivors have been pulled from South Africa's deepest mine since Monday from red cage-like contraptions thousands of feet underground, police said. Police were unsure how many miners remained inside but said it could be in the hundreds. Nine more bodies were exhumed in community-led rescue operations on Friday, according to a group representing the miners.

The mine has been the scene of tense standoffs between police, miners and local community members since authorities moved to cut off food and water above ground for a period of time, forcing miners to leave. At the time, a cabinet minister said the aim was to "drive them away" and that the government would not help because they were "criminals".

But the tactic has been fiercely criticized by civil society groups and communities, and the South African government has come under scrutiny for its handling of the Bafilsfontein gold mine, where more than 100 miners are believed to have starved to death underground. . or dehydration, according to the group representing them.

Authorities removed a system of ropes and pulleys used by miners to access and lower supplies, saying survivors were able to get out but refused to do so for fear of arrest. Civil society groups challenged this and won a court case forcing authorities to allow food, water and medicine to be delivered to the miners. But they say there are not enough supplies and many miners are starving and unable to climb out because the mine is too steep.

Residents despair

Families gathered on Tuesday at the mine near the town of Steelfontein, southwest of Johannesburg, awaiting news, some holding placards criticizing the authorities' response. A sign read "Steelefontein's Sacrifice" as some handcuffed survivors were led away in a line by police.

The community organized its own rescue operation on Friday before authorities began formal rescue operations on Monday. They said a proper rescue operation should have been launched months ago.

Mzukisi Jam, regional president of the South African National Civic Organization, said: "We are delighted that this operation is taking place, although we believe that if it had been carried out earlier we would not have even killed one person. Death." Civil and rights groups.

Authorities have been grappling with informal mining for years

Illegal mining is common in parts of gold-rich South Africa, with companies closing mines that are no longer profitable, leading to groups of informal miners illegally entering mines in search of remaining deposits.

Large groups of miners often work underground for months to maximize profits, bringing food, water, generators and other equipment with them but also relying on others on the surface to move more supplies.

Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe visited the site on Tuesday and said more than 1,500 miners who had resurfaced from the Buffelsfontein mine had been arrested since authorities began a larger crackdown on illegal mining in late 2023. He said the vast majority were foreigners from neighboring countries.

Police also doubled down on the message that miners still underground would not come out for fear of being arrested.

Activists say the only way out is for miners to make the perilous trek to another mine, which can take days, and crawl out, but many are too weak or sick to climb out. The mine is 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) deep and has multiple shafts, layers and a maze of tunnels. Groups representing miners say there are many groups located in various parts of the mine.

“The last time I spoke to my brother was in July, when he told us he was going underground,” said Zinzi Tom, the sister of a miner still working underground. "We haven't heard anything from him, but a miner who surfaced yesterday said he saw him about two weeks ago. Apparently he was very ill and struggling to survive."

Cell phone video emerges from underground

The United Action Group of Mining Affected Communities, which took authorities to court in December to force them to allow supplies to be delivered to miners, released two mobile phone videos it said were from underground showing dozens of people wrapped in bags. Shrouded miner's body. plastic. A spokesman for the group said "at least" 100 miners died.

In the mobile phone videos, which were allegedly taken deep inside the mine, one man can be heard saying: "This is hunger. People are dying of hunger." He recorded the haggard-looking men sitting in the damp pit of the mine. on the floor. He added: "Please help us. Give us food or take us out."

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said the rescue operation would last 10 days and authorities would then reassess. Police also said survivors who were brought to the surface would be arrested and charged with illegal mining and trespassing after receiving medical attention.

Authorities made their stance clear in November when South African cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told reporters the government would not help miners they considered criminals.

"We don't provide assistance to criminals," she said. "We're going to smoke them out. They're going to come out."

She added: "Criminals will not be helped. Criminals will be persecuted."