Several hundred people are believed to remain in an illegal mine in South Africa after the government cut off vital supplies and refused to help them, in a dramatic bid to crack down on the industry.

Desperate families of illegal miners trapped in a closed mine in South Africa await their return. The miners, seeking gold, are blocked by police who have cut supplies. Over 1,000 have resurfaced due to police actions,

The miners in a mineshaft in Stilfontein are believed to be suffering from a lack of food, water and other basic necessities.