Rescuers bring out survivors and dead from a South African mine as hundreds remain trapped

Rescuers sent a cage-like structure down into one of South Africa's deepest gold mines on Tuesday to bring out survivors among hundreds of illegal miners trapped for months in an abandoned shaft.

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More than 100 are believed to have died of starvation or dehydration.

Civic organisations and groups representing the miners say that at least 24 bodies and 34 survivors have been brought out of the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine since Friday, but more than 500 miners are still believed to be underground, many of them ill and starving. Police said they are uncertain how many remain, but it is likely to be hundreds.