SOUTH AFRICA Death toll at illegal mine reaches 78

Rescuers pulled more bodies from a disused gold shaft in South Africa where the toll climbed to 78 Wednesday as police try to clear out illegal miners who have been underground for months.

Authorities began trying to remove the bodies and bring up survivors on Monday after residents voiced fears that over 100 people may have died in the mine in Stilfontein, about 140 kilometres (90 miles) southwest of Johannesburg.

At least 216 people have emerged alive in the first three days of the operation while 78 bodies were retrieved, police said in a statement.

All 84 of the miners rescued on Wednesday were arrested, police said.

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The mine runs 2.6 kilometres underground and a specialised machine was brought in Monday to lift out the miners and the bodies, a handful of people at a time.