More than 150 illegal miners have been rescued from an abandoned mine in Mpumalanga province in eastern South Africa.
Police said three bodies were recovered earlier this week on the first day of the rescue operation.
Most of those rescued, who are foreign nationals, claim that they were forced to work underground against their will to search for gold.
A police spokesman confirmed the arrest of the miners, and investigations into illegal mining activities in the area are still ongoing.
Days earlier, National Police Chief Fani Masimola confirmed that officers were investigating “allegations of human trafficking and forced labor in these mining operations by those who have resurfaced.”
On Friday night, the last miner to emerge from the abandoned mine blew a whistle as he was greeted by army officers.
He looked exhausted but couldn't hide his relief after it surfaced.
A police spokesman confirmed that the rescue operation at the Mpumalanga mine has now been completed, although investigations will continue before the site is closed.
Meanwhile, rescue efforts are still underway at another abandoned mine in Stilfontein, southwest of Johannesburg.
Authorities plan to deploy more equipment on Monday to help extract people still trapped underground.
Illegal mining is widespread across South Africa, costing the economy millions in lost revenue.
General Masemola described Mpumalanga as a hotspot for such activities.
