More pathology teams roped in to deal with rising death toll in Stilfontein

STILFONTEIN - Officials in Stilfontein have called for back-up, with forensic pathology teams from Gauteng roped in to bolster teams in the North West.

This as an operation to retrieve hundreds of illegal miners underground continues.

This is part of plans to shut down illicit mining networks in the area.

More than 210 zama zamas have resurfaced alive since the start of the week while close to 80 dead bodies have been recovered.

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With the sheer numbers of illegal miners turning up dead, a small town like Klerksdorp doesn't appear to have the capacity to accommodate the rising death toll.

It's understood that some of the mortuaries in Stilfontein are already filled to capacity, with some bodies being taken to facilities in neighbouring towns.

The volunteers sent down with the cage to help retrieve the illegal miners underground also said that some bodies were too far and too heavy to carry to the entrance of the shaft.

National police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, said it may still be some time before forensic reports were handed over to police.

"We are not there yet. Remember, as the minister indicated yesterday during the media briefing, we are yet to get a full report from pathologists on the causes of death."

Wednesday’s operation is still expected to run for several more hours.