JOHANNESBURGFeb. 16 (UPI) -- South African emergency workers have rescued 11 illegal miners trapped underground in an abandoned gold mine shaft for at least two days. But officials believe that more than 200 more miners remain underground, refusing to come out for fear of arrest.
Another miner rescued. ER24 assessing the miners before being handed over to SAP. pic.twitter.com/mw0gAf4IuC
— ER24 EMS (Pty) Ltd ® (@ER24EMS) February 16, 2014"They will be offered rescue should they decide to come out," he told BBC News. "But they will be arrested should they come to the surface again."
Aerial footage of mine rescue in #Benoni pic.twitter.com/RWJjFqCrwC
— ER24 EMS (Pty) Ltd ® (@ER24EMS) February 16, 2014Related
South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources said Sunday that "the issue of illegal mining remains a serious concern to the department &we continue to work with law enforcement agencies in this regard."
"Illegal mining is a crime, and once all miners receive medical attention, they are arrested," the agency tweeted.
Straight from medical bus to police van. #Benoni illegal miners pic.twitter.com/rZ6te7FE6b
— ER24 EMS (Pty) Ltd ® (@ER24EMS) February 16, 2014[BBC News, Bloomberg Businessweek, CNN]
