Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba
A MINING accident has left seven artisanal miners feared dead after they became trapped inside a mine shaft in Silobela, Midlands Province, since Tuesday afternoon.
The miners were working inside the shaft when it suddenly collapsed following heavy rains, trapping them underground.
Despite ongoing rescue efforts, it is feared that the miners may have succumbed to their injuries.
Provincial mining director for Midlands Province, Engineer Khumbulani Mlangeni, said rescue efforts are underway.
“Rescue search and retrieve efforts still ongoing as of early this (Friday) morning; rains are hampering progress,” he said.
According to Mrs. Sithokozike Moyo, chairperson of the Silobela Small Scale Miners Association, hopes of rescuing the seven alive have been fading with each passing day.
She said rescue operations involve the Police, Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, as well as local miners.
“A syndicate of seven artisanal miners was trapped inside a mine shaft on Tuesday following heavy rains. The seven miners were working in a mining shaft when it started raining heavily. Since Tuesday, rescue efforts have failed to retrieve them. We have been pumping out water trying to rescue them,” she said.
