Over 100 gold prospectors may have died in illegal mining

At least 100 gold prospectors have died in an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein, South Africa, where they had been trapped for months after mining gold illegally.

The information comes from an organization that represents the illegal miners.

The gold diggers have been trapped in the mine for months since police tried to evict them from the mine shaft last November.

Many of those in the mine refuse to go up, as they fear being arrested – or deported if they come from another country. In addition, many have become so weakened that they can no longer get up.

Evidence of the scale of the tragedy is recorded footage that rescued miners brought with them from the depths of the mine. Causes of death are believed to be starvation or thirst.

Police have not been able to confirm the extent of the tragedy or how many have died.

The mine is located in the North West Province in northern South Africa, also known as, among other things, Bokone Bophirima.

Corrected: In the previous version, the wrong day of the week was entered for the tasks.