Originally published on February 17, 2014

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As many as 200 illegal miners were found trapped in an unused mine near Johannesburg in South Africa on Saturday, February 15.

Twelve out of as many as 200 trapped illegal miners have been rescued from a collapsed mine shaft near South Africa's biggest city, Johannesburg.

Police on patrol on Saturday morning heard cries for help coming from underground and discovered an illegal mine in the town of Benoni, just east of Johannesburg.

Illegal mining of abandon shafts is common in South Africa and it's believed a tunnel being built by the miners contributed to the collapse.

Rescuers brought up a dozen miners, but Reuters reports as many as 200 people may have been in the mine at the time of the collapse.

While some of miners have safely reached the surface, an unknown number remain underground as they fear arrest, South African authorities said.

South Africa's mining wealth accounts for 60 percent of its export revenue. It's also thought to be home to 80 percent of the world's platinum and 50 percent of the globe's gold reserves.

Most mining accidents in South Africa in recent years have occurred in illegal, abandoned mines, with nine deaths reported in three separate incidents in the month of February 2014.

The shaft where the incident took place is owned by Chinese bullion producer Gold One, which is not currently prospecting in it.

Reuters reports that Gold One spokesman Grant Stuart explained that the miners had been trapped in a ventilation shaft.

"The illegal miners have dug a tunnel right next to it to access the shaft and it has collapsed behind them," he said, adding that recent heavy rains may also be a factor in the collapse.

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