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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Rachel Savage in Johannesburg and agencies

Bodies recovered from illegal goldmine in South Africa where many feared dead

A man is carried on a stretcher after being rescued from underground during the official rescue operation at a disused gold mine shaft in Stilfontein
A man is carried on a stretcher after being rescued from underground during the official rescue operation at a disused gold mine shaft in Stilfontein Photograph: Kim Ludbrook/EPA

Thirty-six bodies have been brought out of an illegal goldmine in South Africa and 82 people have been taken out alive since Monday, after police blocked supplies of food, water and medicine to the workers underground in October in an attempt to force them out.

On Thursday, a letter brought up to the surface claimed there were 109 dead bodies underground. A video circulated by the NGO Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) appeared to show more than 50 wrapped bodies laid out in a tunnel.

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