Six more bodies have been recovered from an illegal gold mine in South Africa where scores of people reportedly died underground after authorities tried to force them out and seal the mine in November, CBS News affiliate BBC News reports. Eight people were rescued alive on Tuesday, and 26 on Monday, the BBC reports.
More than 100 people who mined illegally at the abandoned mine have reportedly died since the crackdown began, a group representing the miners told Britain's Sky News. Arguing that the miners had entered without permission, the crackdown included authorities cutting off their access to food and water, the BBC reports.
Last week, the court ordered the government to facilitate the rescue operation.
CHRISTIAN VELCICH, Getty
The videos, which appear to have been shot on cellphones inside the mine and brought to the surface by those being rescued, show what appear to be mutilated people and corpses wrapped in makeshift body bags. CBS News was unable to independently verify the video.
The General Industrial Workers of South Africa, also known as Givusa, released one video, which CBS News could not independently verify, showing dozens of men sitting on the floor and saying in an off-camera voice that they are hungry and in need to help
“We begin to show you the bodies of those who died underground,” said a voice in the video. “And that's not all… See how people struggle? Please, we need help.”
At a briefing on Monday, Givus executives described the situation at the mine as a “massacre,” according to the BBC.
“This footage shows a pile of human bodies, miners who died needlessly,” said Givusa president Mametlwe Sebey.
South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources told the BBC that Monday's rescue operation involved lowering a cage designed to hold six to seven people into the mine. It said that the cage was raised and lowered down the barrel every hour.