Rescuers have recovered more bodies from a disused gold shaft in South Africa, raising the toll to 78 as police work to clear out illegal miners who have been underground for months.
Authorities began the operation on Monday after residents expressed fears that over 100 individuals may have perished in the mine located in Stilfontein, about 140 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Johannesburg.
In the first three days of the rescue effort, at least 216 people have emerged alive, while 78 bodies have been retrieved, according to a police statement. All 84 miners rescued on Wednesday were subsequently arrested.
The mine extends 2.6 kilometers underground, and a specialized machine was brought in on Monday to lift out the miners and the bodies, one or two at a time.
This tragic incident highlights the dangers associated with illegal mining operations in the region.
