EWN reports that another 13 bodies have been retrieved from the Eland gold mine shaft, bringing to 24 the number of fatalities following a explosion at the Welkom operation.  

The bodies have yet to be identified, but police suspect they are illegal miners.  It is still unclear what triggered last Thursday's blast, but mine owner Harmony Gold said it was saddened by the deaths.  None of those retrieved had been formally identified and their state of decomposition will make this process challenging.  Harmony spokesperson Marian van der Walt said:  “We call on the public to advise us should they know of anyone involved in illegal mining activities and report that to the company.”

• This short report by Tendani Mulaudzi is at EWN
• Read too, Twenty-four bodies retrieved from Free State mine, at eNCA

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