Around 19 trapped miners in South Africa are still feared trapped in an illegal gold mine and refuse to be rescued as they fear prosecution.
The workers still trapped underground are now being persuaded to come out of the mine by one of the rescued miners, the CNN reported.
The incident took place on Saturday when the workers went into an illegally dug mine in Benoni. Soon after, a boulder fell, obstructing their path for coming out.
While the number of trapped people was being said as 200, the figure turned out to be incorrect.
After nightfall, some mine security officials remained at the site, but rescue workers had packed up and left, leaving behind a ladder in the shaft for those still below.
"Should they have a change of heart and mind, they then have at least some access to get out of the shaft," emergency responder Kobus Du Plooy said.
He said he didn't know how many people were still in the shaft. Earlier, reports said more than 200 miners had been trapped. But the ones who emerged were tightlipped about the colleagues they left behind, apparently concerned about trouble with the police.
Some of the 11 who came out were dehydrated but otherwise in good health. They were believed to have been trapped since Saturday morning and police patrolling in the area heard their screams for help, the South African Press Association reported. Rescue vehicles and equipment were brought to the site to stabilize the ground before the removal of the rubble began.
Illegal mining is common in South Africa, a major producer of gold and platinum. Workers brave unsafe conditions below ground amid reports of the involvement of organized crime and even clashes between rival groups seeking to extract precious metal from the shafts.
(With AP Inputs)
The workers still trapped underground are now being persuaded to come out of the mine by one of the rescued miners, the CNN reported.
The incident took place on Saturday when the workers went into an illegally dug mine in Benoni. Soon after, a boulder fell, obstructing their path for coming out.
While the number of trapped people was being said as 200, the figure turned out to be incorrect.
After nightfall, some mine security officials remained at the site, but rescue workers had packed up and left, leaving behind a ladder in the shaft for those still below.
"Should they have a change of heart and mind, they then have at least some access to get out of the shaft," emergency responder Kobus Du Plooy said.
He said he didn't know how many people were still in the shaft. Earlier, reports said more than 200 miners had been trapped. But the ones who emerged were tightlipped about the colleagues they left behind, apparently concerned about trouble with the police.
Some of the 11 who came out were dehydrated but otherwise in good health. They were believed to have been trapped since Saturday morning and police patrolling in the area heard their screams for help, the South African Press Association reported. Rescue vehicles and equipment were brought to the site to stabilize the ground before the removal of the rubble began.
Illegal mining is common in South Africa, a major producer of gold and platinum. Workers brave unsafe conditions below ground amid reports of the involvement of organized crime and even clashes between rival groups seeking to extract precious metal from the shafts.
(With AP Inputs)
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