The death toll in a monthslong standoff between police and miners trapped while working illegally in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa has risen to at least 87, police said Thursday. Authorities faced growing anger and a possible investigation over their initial refusal to help the miners and instead “smoke

No more illegal miners are believed to be trapped underground at a gold mine in South Africa, volunteers working with rescue teams have said.

Footage provided by illegal miners who escaped weeks of being trapped underground after a police raid showed dozens of dead bodies and other miners clinging to life with ribs showing from lack of food or water.