South African miners trapped underground: What you need to know

Police officials surrounded the mine and cut off suppliers to the illegal miners, hoping to force them out.

Hundreds – possibly thousands – of miners remain trapped in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa’s northwestern Stilfontein town, fearful to come out of hiding and face arrest by security officials in a tense standoff that has continued for weeks.

South African police have guarded the site’s entrance since early November. Officials cut off food and water supplies earlier to force the miners out and vowed they would not assist with rescue operations. Police also say some of the miners could be armed, and that would pose a risk to officials rescuing them.

Illegal mining is a widespread crime in South Africa. Authorities have increasingly taken a hard line, cracking down on miners, called “zama zamas”.

At least one of the miners has been confirmed dead, and several others are believed to be too sick to be rescued.

Here’s what we know about the miners and how the situation came about: