
Chimoio (Mozambique), 17 Jan (AIM) – The Mozambican authorities have confirmed the death of at least four individuals when a gold mine collapsed on Wednesday, in the district of Gondola, in the central Mozambican province of Manica.
Mario Paunde, head of the Amatongas Socel administrative post, explained that the lifeless bodies of the illegal miners were rescued on Thursday “but work is continuing to locate the remaining victims who are presumed to be inside the mine”.
Local sources claim that about ten miners might have disappeared when the gold mine collapsed on Wednesday at around 05.00.
Three other victims were rescued alive, but with serious injuries. They were taken immediately to Gondola District Hospital.
“We have managed to locate bodies that were buried under the rubble. We think there are still others because, the miners who were digging in the same place say there were ten of them”, Paunde said.
He explained that “due to the rainy weather here in Amatongas Socel, and because it’s already night and there’s no lighting, we’ve interrupted the work, which should be resumed tomorrow (Friday) very early.”
“We want to believe that, if they really are inside the mine, we will certainly find the bodies”, he added.
He noted that with the machines and support staff, as well as the involvement of the local population, a huge effort is under way to rescue anyone still buried in the collapsed mine.
“We are working tirelessly to see if we can find the victims. Our wish is to see if we can find them alive. The rescue personnel and the local population are doing everything they can to make it as urgent as possible for us to find all the victims”, he said.
Manica province is rich in minerals, especially gold, which is a tempting target for illegal miners. Conditions are hazardous and tragedies are frequent when mine shafts collapse.
(AIM)
Ad/pf (326)