Volunteers Mobilize as South Africa Plans Rescue of Trapped Miners

Dozens of local volunteers in South Africa have come forward to assist in the rescue of miners feared trapped underground in an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein, North West province. The miners, believed to number as many as 4,000, had entered the mine illegally, and some are now feared to be too weak to make it out.

The South African government had initially closed off a shaft to prevent undocumented miners, whom they described as “criminals,” from accessing food, water, and medicine. However, with the situation worsening, volunteers have stepped in to help.

Campaigners working with the miners say that many of them had been reluctant to leave the mine earlier due to fears of arrest or deportation, as they were working illegally. Some miners are believed to have become too frail to climb out on their own.

The government has pledged to rescue the trapped miners, and efforts are ongoing to bring them to safety. The rescue operation is complicated by the challenging conditions of the mine, and authorities are coordinating with local volunteers to ensure that the miners receive the necessary help.