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| South Africans in Mine Rescued and Then Arrested | |
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| Emergency crews in South Africa rescued 11 miners who were trapped while working illegally in an abandoned gold mine near Johannesburg on Sunday, but other miners decided to stay underground to avoid being arrested, emergency workers said. | Emergency crews in South Africa rescued 11 miners who were trapped while working illegally in an abandoned gold mine near Johannesburg on Sunday, but other miners decided to stay underground to avoid being arrested, emergency workers said. |
| More than 200 miners were initially reported to be in the mine, based on estimates from those who had been trapped. It was unclear how many people remained in the mine on Sunday night, but the emergency crews said that they had left a ladder and that the miners could exit safely at any time. | More than 200 miners were initially reported to be in the mine, based on estimates from those who had been trapped. It was unclear how many people remained in the mine on Sunday night, but the emergency crews said that they had left a ladder and that the miners could exit safely at any time. |
| The miners had reported that about 30 people were stuck in the top section of the mine, and that 200 others were in a lower section, but officials were not able to confirm those figures. | The miners had reported that about 30 people were stuck in the top section of the mine, and that 200 others were 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 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 trapped miners were working there illegally, the Department of Mineral Resources said. Those who were rescued received medical attention and were arrested, the department said. | The trapped miners were working there illegally, the Department of Mineral Resources said. Those who were rescued received medical attention and were arrested, the department said. |
| “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 statement posted 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 statement posted on Twitter. |
| The mine is near the city of Benoni, about 20 miles east of Johannesburg. Gold One, which operates across southern Africa, had prospecting rights to the mine but was not currently working it, Reuters reported. | The mine is near the city of Benoni, about 20 miles east of Johannesburg. Gold One, which operates across southern Africa, had prospecting rights to the mine but was not currently working it, Reuters reported. |
| Illegal mining has been on the rise in Gauteng Province, which includes Johannesburg, Benoni and nearby cities. The minister for mineral resources, Susan Shabangu, said last fall that the recent increase in illegal mining in the province was unsafe for miners and for local communities. | Illegal mining has been on the rise in Gauteng Province, which includes Johannesburg, Benoni and nearby cities. The minister for mineral resources, Susan Shabangu, said last fall that the recent increase in illegal mining in the province was unsafe for miners and for local communities. |
| In 2009, at least 82 men who were working illegally in an abandoned mine in South Africa died in an underground fire. | In 2009, at least 82 men who were working illegally in an abandoned mine in South Africa died in an underground fire. |
| On Sunday, the emergency crews used a crane to remove a large rock and other rubble from the opening to the mine. The miners were lifted out through a small, square hole. The emergency crews could communicate with the miners during the rescue and sent them bottles of water. | On Sunday, the emergency crews used a crane to remove a large rock and other rubble from the opening to the mine. The miners were lifted out through a small, square hole. The emergency crews could communicate with the miners during the rescue and sent them bottles of water. |
| The trapped miners were found after police officers patrolling the rural area heard cries for help, ER24 said. The miners appeared to have been trapped since early Saturday. | The trapped miners were found after police officers patrolling the rural area heard cries for help, ER24 said. The miners appeared to have been trapped since early Saturday. |