Rescuers have hoisted illegal miners and several bodies from an abandoned gold mine in South Africa, where reports emerge that hundreds may be trapped and at least 100 may have already died.

South African authorities have recovered at least 60 bodies from an abandoned gold mine more than two kilometres underground .

Rescue teams in South Africa have stepped up efforts to pull out survivors and the corpses of illegal miners trapped underground for about two months, following one of the most extraordinary tragedies to hit the industry.