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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporter
THE two gold panners who died at Interfah Mine in Matobo District, Matabeleland South are the only ones who were trapped after a mine shaft collapsed on them.
Rescue teams concluded their search yesterday and ascertained that only two miners whose bodies were retrieved on Sunday, were trapped underground and not seven as earlier suspected.
When the mine shaft collapsed in the early hours of Sunday morning, there were unconfirmed reports that seven miners were trapped underground.
Rescue teams retrieved two bodies on Sunday and continued the search which ascertained that only the two miners were underground when it collapsed.
An excavator was used to dig up the mineshaft where the gold panners were suspected to be trapped.
Matobo District development coordinator, who is also the head of district civil protection unit, Mr Obey Chaputsira said the rescue operation was over.
“Initially it was suspected that seven bodies were trapped underground but the search concluded that there were only two miners. The two bodies were retrieved on Sunday but the search continued until it was established that there were no more bodies trapped,” he said.
Mr Chaputsira urged gold panners to avoid going underground especially during the rainy season.
The gold panners had invaded Interfah Mine, which is yet to start operating.
On Sunday, Interfah Mine director Mr Philani Ncube said the company had sought police interventions when it learnt that gold panners had invaded their mine.
“This is our mine and we have not yet started mining as we are in the process of registering. We got reports that people were coming to illegally mine here after discovering gold deposits using detectors,” he said. – @nqotshili.
derick.khumalo