Rescue efforts are ongoing at the abandoned Buffelsfontein Gold Mine in South Africa, where hundreds of illegal miners remain trapped deep underground. As of Tuesday, 36 bodies have been recovered, and 82 survivors have been brought to the surface.
However, despite these efforts, the situation remains critical. A miners’ rights group estimates that hundreds more remain trapped, facing the perilous challenges of starvation, dehydration, and the dangers of the mine itself.
The rescue operation, which began on Monday, involves the use of a metal cage to retrieve survivors and recover bodies from the mine shaft, which extends more than 2 kilometers underground. 
The government’s crackdown on illegal mining, known as “Operation Vala Umgodi,” has drawn significant criticism. This operation, which included cutting off food and water supplies to the trapped miners, has been condemned by human rights organizations as inhumane and potentially contributing to the loss of life.
While the government maintains that these measures were necessary to address the issue of illegal mining, the tragic events at the Stilfontein mine highlight the urgent need for a more humane and effective approach to this complex challenge.
The incident underscores the precarious conditions faced by illegal miners and the critical importance of prioritizing the safety and well-being of all individuals, regardless of their employment status.
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