A massive rescue operation at an illegal gold mine in South Africa’s North West Province has resulted in the recovery of 78 bodies and the rescue of 246 survivors. The rescue effort which began on Monday aimed to retrieve illegal miners trapped underground at the Stilfontein mine.

The rescue operation led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Mine Rescue Service has been ongoing for three days. According to the SAPS, the 246 survivors were arrested upon being brought to the surface. The number of bodies recovered stands at 78 with no additional survivors or bodies found since the previous update.

A final sweep of the mine is scheduled for Thursday to confirm that no additional survivors or bodies remain. The Mine Rescue Service will send a cage underground on Thursday morning “to see if any illegal miners resurface with the cage” said SAPS national spokesperson Athlenda Mathe.

The situation at the mine has been unfolding since August 2024, when small groups of illegal miners began emerging from the shafts. Since then at least 1,576 illegal miners have been arrested, with the majority being foreign nationals from neighboring countries.

The abandoned gold mine which is located in the North West Province has been a hotspot for illegal mining activities. Many gold mines in South Africa that were closed over the decades due to declining production have been taken over by illegal foreign miners who reopen them in search of gold.

The SAPS has indicated that further updates on the rescue operation will be provided later on Thursday. The SAPS is working to verify the status of the mine and confirm whether any additional survivors or bodies remain.

“We cannot say for sure that the operation has been called off at this stage” said Mathe. “We will rely on the Mine Rescue Service to confirm this with their state-of-the-art equipment. That will hopefully be able to give us a picture of what is happening underground.”

The SAPS has urged the public to cooperate with the authorities and provide any information that may assist in the investigation. The incident highlights the dangers of illegal mining and the need for increased enforcement and safety measures in abandoned mines.