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S. African rescuers trying to reach over 200 trapped illegal miners


    JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Rescue services in South Africa are trying to reach more than 200 illegal miners reported trapped underground in an abandoned gold shaft in a suburb just east of Johannesburg, an emergency services spokesman said on Sunday.

    Werner Vermaak of ER24 emergency services told Reuters rescuers were communicating with a group of about 30 miners trapped by fallen boulders below the surface.

    "They told us there are about 200 others trapped further below," Vermaak said.

    (Reporting by Pascal Fletcher; Editing by Ed Stoddard)