CARLETONVILLE, South Africa — A specialized mine rescue camera was lowered late last year into an almost 1.6-mile deep mineshaft in South Africa, where hundreds of illegal miners were reported to be trapped, starving, dehydrated and desperate to get out.

With no architectural plans of the actual mineshaft and its levels and tunnels, the camera reached 4,200 feet underground and gave rescuers their first visuals: A large group of illegal miners was seen standing around on a level, clearly waiting for help to arrive.

Rescuers brought the camera back to the surface and then sent it back down, this time with a notepad, pen and a letter attached to initiate communication with the miners. Once it reached them, the miners immediately also attached a note telling the rescuers that about 480 of them were underground.

This would mark the beginning of discussions to explore various option.

It would also be the first time a specially designed cage that can be lowered as deep as 10,170 feet fitted with specialized cameras and a communications system can be used.

— The Associated Press