South African authorities have recovered 36 corpses and rescued 82 survivors from a gold mine during a two-day operation aimed at addressing illegal mining activities. All those rescued alive have been arrested,

A total of 118 illegal miners, including 36 dead, have been extracted from an abandoned gold mine in South Africa. The operation has led to arrests for illegal mining and trespassing.

The recoveries of bodies come months after the miners, who officials say were illegally mining, were first discovered and had their food and water cut off in a bid to force them out.

Over 78 miners have died, and more than 160 have been rescued from an abandoned South African gold mine amid a standoff with authorities. The government's controversial 'smoke them out' tactic, which involved cutting off supplies,

The authorities had at one point limited the miners’ access to food, water and other supplies in a blockade that drew criticism from human rights groups.

The number of illegal miners who’ve died in a months-long standoff with the South African authorities increased to 51, the security forces said.Most Read from BloombergThese Homes Withstood the LA Fires.

Rescued miners are seen as they are processed by police after being rescued at the mine shaft where rescue operations are ongoing as attempts are made to rescue illegal miners who have been underground for months,