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Rescue Efforts Underway in South Africa to Save Dozens of Trapped Miners 11 Miners Are Rescued in South Africa
(about 3 hours later)
Emergency crews in South Africa were working on Sunday to rescue scores of miners trapped in an old mine shaft in a city near Johannesburg, emergency services workers said. Emergency crews in South Africa rescued 11 miners who were trapped while working illegally in an abandoned mine shaft near Johannesburg on Sunday, but other miners remained inside because they were afraid of being arrested, emergency workers said.
More than 200 miners were believed to be trapped beneath several layers of boulders. They became trapped while working there illegally, according to a statement from ER24, a private, national emergency medical services organization in South Africa. Police officers were patrolling the area, near the city of Benoni, about 20 miles east of Johannesburg, when they heard cries for help. More than 200 miners were initially believed to be inside the mine, based on reports from those who had been trapped underground. It was unclear how many people remained inside the mine on Sunday night, but emergency crews said they had left a ladder for any other miners to use if they decided to exit.
On Sunday evening, ER24 reported on Twitter that 11 miners had been rescued. A medical team was at the scene treating them. The miners initially reported that there were about 30 people trapped in the top section of the mine, and 200 others in a lower section, but officials were not able to confirm those figures.
Emergency crews had been working for eight hours to rescue the miners and were able to remove a large rock from the opening to the mine, ER24 said. The miners reported that there were about 30 people trapped in the top section of the mine, and 200 others in a lower section, but officials were not able to confirm those figures. The rescue operations were called off after nine hours, according to ER24, a private, national emergency medical services organization in South Africa. The crime scene was handed over to the police and to mine security officials at Gold One, a mining company.
The miners appeared to have been trapped since early Saturday, ER24 said. The miners who were trapped beneath several layers of boulders were working there illegally, said the Department of Mineral Resources. Those who were rescued will receive medical attention and then be arrested, the department said.
The Department of Minerals said on Sunday that the miners would be arrested after they were checked for injuries. “The issue of illegal mining remains a serious concern to the department & we continue to work with law enforcement agencies in this regard,” the department said in a post on Twitter.
“The issue of illegal mining remains a serious concern to the department & we continue to work with law enforcement agencies in this regard,” the department said in a post on Twitter. “Illegal mining is a crime, and once all miners receive medical attention, they are arrested.” Emergency crews removed a large rock and other rubble from the opening to the mine, ER24 said. Police officers had been patrolling the area, near the city of Benoni, about 20 miles east of Johannesburg, when they heard cries for help. The miners appeared to have been trapped since early Saturday, ER24 said.
One miner was reluctant to leave the mine for fear of being arrested, ER24 said. Throughout the afternoon, ER24 posted photographs of the rescue efforts on Twitter. A large crane was used to remove debris from the entrance. Rescue workers were able to communicate with the miners and tried to send them bottles of water.
Throughout the afternoon, ER24 posted photographs of the rescue efforts on Twitter. Rescue workers were able to communicate with the miners and tried to send them bottles of water.