Death toll at illegal South African mine reaches 78

Rescuers pulled more bodies from a disused gold shaft in South Africa where the death toll climbed to 78 Wednesday. Authorities began trying to remove the bodies and bring up survivors on Monday, after residents voiced fears that more than 100 people may have died in the mine in Stilfontein, about 140 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg.

At least 246 people have emerged alive in the first three days of the operation while 78 bodies were retrieved, police said in a statement, with the rescuers expecting to wrap up their efforts on Thursday. All 84 of the miners rescued on Wednesday were arrested, police said.