Dozens of volunteers have entered an abandoned gold mine in South Africa to help what could be thousands of illegal miners who have been underground for a month.
Because the miners entered the shaft in Stilfontein deliberately, desperate to retrieve gold or mineral residues, the authorities have taken a hard line, blocking food and water supplies.
The miners have refused to co-operate with the authorities as some are undocumented migrants and fear being deported or arrested.
There are reports that the miners have been eating vinegar and toothpaste to survive while underground.
It is feared that their health could be deteriorating, and they may be too weak and frail to leave the mine themselves.
The volunteers, who are organised into three groups of 50, say it takes about an hour to get one person out.
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