JOHANNESBURG: South African police said on Friday that they had rescued 26 undocumented Ethiopian nationals who were being held captive in a suburban house in Johannesburg by suspected human traffickers.

Up to 30 other men may have already escaped through a smashed window before police swooped in on the house late on Thursday and could be hiding in the area, the police priority crimes unit said.

According to preliminary information from the rescued men, the group was held in the Sandringham suburb in northern Johannesburg without clothes or documents, Col. Philani Nkwalase said.

Eleven men were taken to hospital with injuries apparently caused when they tried to escape, including deep cuts.

Three other Ethiopian nationals were arrested on suspicion of human trafficking.