Authorities pull 13 bodies from Mpumalanga mine
Thirteen bodies have been recovered from a mine shaft in Mpumalanga where there was a gas explosion earlier this month.
Provincial police spokesperson Leonard Hlathi says the recovery mission at Gloria mine took place this morning.
It's believed a group of about 20 people became trapped underground after going into the disused shaft - allegedly to steal copper cables.
Hlathi says teams will return on Monday to continue with the operation.
"They could not continue with the search and rescue today. However, they will go back again on Monday. The reasons that were given to us regarding the failure to continue today was that inside the shaft there was too much smoke. As police, we have opened an inquest docket which we will continue to have more names."
