Daily SumUp

South African police ended a rescue operation at an abandoned gold mine on Wednesday and said they believe they have brought out all the survivors and retrieved all the bodies after hundreds of miners were trapped for months in one of the country’s deepest mines while working illegally.

At least 78 miners were confirmed dead, police said, and 246 survivors had been rescued. The victims were suspected to have died of starvation or dehydration, civic groups said, although no cause of death has been released for any of them.

The death toll is likely higher, as a community group reported retrieving nine bodies before the police operation started. There have also been reports of an unconfirmed number of bodies and survivors being brought out sporadically during other community-led rescue efforts since last year.

The surprise announcement ending the operation came a day after the police minister said it would likely last until at least next week.

Rescuers would do a final sweep of the mine on Thursday, said Maj.-Gen. Patrick Asaneng, the acting police commissioner for North West province.