Emergency workers in South Africa have rescued nearly a dozen miners trapped in an abandoned gold mine east of Johannesburg.
Rescue workers used heavy duty equipment to remove large rocks and boulders that fell on top of the mine shaft.
Officials had been in contact with about 30 of the trapped miners, who say nearly 200 others were stuck in the tunnels deep below the surface. Authorities are uncertain of the total amount.
Police at the scene say some of the trapped miners were reluctant to emerge because of fears they would be arrested.
The miners went down into the mine Saturday after illegally digging a tunnel near the abandoned shaft. They were discovered after police patrolling the area heard their calls for help.
Rescue workers used heavy duty equipment to remove large rocks and boulders that fell on top of the mine shaft.
Officials had been in contact with about 30 of the trapped miners, who say nearly 200 others were stuck in the tunnels deep below the surface. Authorities are uncertain of the total amount.
Police at the scene say some of the trapped miners were reluctant to emerge because of fears they would be arrested.
The miners went down into the mine Saturday after illegally digging a tunnel near the abandoned shaft. They were discovered after police patrolling the area heard their calls for help.