Rescue Operation Begins for Trapped Miners in South Africa

A rescue operation has commenced to extract illegal miners trapped in the Buffelsfontein gold mine in South Africa, where authorities have reportedly blocked food and water supplies since October to compel them to surface. Disturbing footage has emerged showing emaciated miners and deceased bodies, with claims that over 100 people may have died underground due to starvation and dehydration. Civil rights groups estimate that hundreds remain trapped, while the police assert that the number is likely in the hundreds rather than thousands. Seven miners and four bodies were retrieved during the initial phase of the operation, which is being conducted by a professional rescue company using a specialized machine. The situation has drawn significant public attention, leading to legal actions against the government to ensure the safety and extraction of the miners. The community has also expressed outrage over the government's tactics, which they view as a human rights violation.