South Africa's president is facing calls to order an inquiry into a police operation that was meant to combat illegal mining but ended up leaving 87 miners to die underground as authorities attempted to force them to surrender during a monthslong standoff.

The miners are suspected to have died of starvation and dehydration, although no causes of death have been released.

Over 100 illegal miners are thought to have died of starvation or dehydration after being trapped in an abandoned shaft in South Africa for months, according to reports.