Tragedy struck a gold mine in Zimbabwe on Friday when a shaft collapse claimed the lives of at least nine miners. The devastating incident took place at the Bay Horse Mine in Chegutu, located approximately 120 kilometres west of the capital city, Harare. According to reports, four bodies have been recovered thus far, while five others remain trapped under the rubble.
The Zimbabwe Miners Federation President, Henrietta Rushwaya, confirmed the grim situation, stating, “We can clearly see (five) bodies. We are convinced all of them are dead. However, it is difficult to retrieve the bodies due to ongoing collapses in the mine, which pose a threat to the rescuers’ lives as well.”
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Mine engineer Hussein Phiri also corroborated the information, acknowledging the discovery of the trapped miners’ bodies. The rescuers are working tirelessly to recover the remaining victims. The rescue efforts are being overseen by the country’s Minister of Mines, Soda Zhemu, who confirmed that 21 miners managed to escape the collapse.
On the day of the incident, 13 individuals were fortunate enough to escape unharmed, immediately following the collapse. Throughout the night, eight more miners were successfully rescued. However, the whereabouts of three other miners remain unknown, raising concerns about their safety and well-being.
The tragic events of Friday afternoon unfolded in front of hundreds of local residents who anxiously watched the rescue workers’ valiant attempts to retrieve the bodies from the collapsed mine. Emotions ran high as women waited anxiously for their loved ones to be brought out of the rubble.
Johannes Nyautete, one of the miners who managed to escape, described the terrifying moment when the mine began to collapse. “The mine started collapsing as soon as I landed on the underground tunnel, which starts about 250 metres from the ground. It was around 10 am on Friday. We then saw some of our colleagues rushing out of the tunnel, and we escaped together. It was a traumatizing experience,” he recounted.
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Investigations into the cause of the collapse have revealed that the absence of safety pillars in the mine contributed to the disaster. This incident sheds light on the prevalence of illegal mining in Zimbabwe due to the country’s floundering economy. Desperate individuals resort to dangerous conditions in pursuit of valuable minerals. Unfortunately, accidents like this are far too common.
At present, Zimbabwe is rich in reserves of platinum, diamonds, gold, coal, and copper. However, the dire economic situation has led to an increase in illegal mining activities, which often occur without adherence to safety regulations. The government must take immediate action to prevent such tragedies and protect the lives of miners.
