Laila Kirkpatrick, Staff Writer
South African police have ended the search-and-rescue operation at an abandoned gold mine. The operation officially concluded on Wednesday, with officials reporting that all known survivors had been rescued and the bodies of those trapped for months were recovered. The mine, one of the deepest in the nation, was being used illegally by workers. Police confirmed that 78 workers were found dead, with 246 survivors rescued.
Most victims are believed to have died from starvation or dehydration, though no official cause of death has been released. The death toll is thought to be higher, as community groups had retrieved some bodies before police began their operation. Unconfirmed reports also suggest additional survivors were rescued by community-led efforts not included in the official count. The operation ended one day after the police minister stated it might continue into the following week. A final search of the mine for any remaining survivors or bodies was planned for Thursday.
