Police in South Africa have compelled 540 unlawful miners out of an unloved mine shaft and arrested them.

Previous this presen, safety forces restrained deliveries of meals and aqua to the miners in a bid to push them out of the mine.

The miners skilled “starvation and dehydration” and have been compelled to resurface, police say.

Folks had been rising from the mine, positioned within the northern the city of Orkney, since Saturday, although loads are believed to stay within the shaft.

On Sunday the nationwide police boss inspired safety forces at the garden “not to back down” and to “ensure the rule of law is restored”, a remark from the power says.

The remark says that previous this presen, safety forces “blocked communities in and around these abandoned mining shifts in Orkney from delivering food parcels, water and necessities to these illegal miners”.

The police reported on Saturday that 225 miners had resurfaced, however “hundreds if not a thousand” have been idea to nonetheless be underground.

In an replace on Sunday, the nationwide power stated an extra 340 had emerged from the mine and positioned underneath arrest.

1000’s of unlawful miners, referred to as “zama zamas” (“those who try their luck” in Zulu), function within the mineral-rich nation.

Nationwide Police Commissioner Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya stated that since December 2023, greater than 13,690 suspects had been arrested throughout seven provinces.

“We have seized R5 million ($283,000; $220,000) in cash and uncut diamonds worth R32 million ($1.8m; £1.4m),” he stated.