At least 100 people who were trapped in a South African mine have died, a group representing them has said. They were illegally mining in an abandoned gold mine and have been engaged in a lengthy standoff with authorities who had cut off their food, water and supplies in an attempt to "smoke them out".
Sabelo Mnguni, a spokesman for the Mining Affected Communities United in Action Group (MACUA), said a mobile phone sent to the surface with some of the rescued miners on Friday had videos showing dozens of bodies underground wrapped in plastic. Mr Mnguni said "a minimum" of 100 men had died in the mine in the northwest town of Stilfontein, suspected to have died of starvation or dehydration.
Since Friday, 18 bodies have been brought out but hundreds of people remain underground. Police spokesman Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said they were still verifying information on how many bodies had been recovered and how many survivors have been brought out after starting a new rescue operation on Monday.
The two videos are reported to show dozens of dead bodies, many wrapped in plastic, while emaciated, shirtless miners pleaded for help. Standoff with police for months. The mine has been the scene of a standoff between police and miners since authorities first attempted to force the miners out and seal the mine in November.
