Zimbabwe media outlets are reporting of the possible death of at least 23 illegal miners who were trapped underground this week.
The miners were in underground tunnels working when the mine sites were flooded by water from a burst dam.
The two mines affected are Silver Moon and Cricket Mines, all near the town of Kadoma.
The Herald reports that the illegal miners entered the mines owned by RioZim and another firm on Tuesday night.
RioZim spokesman Wilson Gwatiringa has said that the company was not mining on the land where the miners were trapped.
But a dam wall nearby collapsed, flooding the shafts and tunnels. Police say they fear they might be no survivors.
Local media reports that rescue teams are on site to pump out the water and search for bodies and any survivors.
Fortunate Muzulu, the administrator for the area, is quoted as saying that “The names of the people believed to have been trapped has reached 23. Chances of rescuing any survivors are very slim.”
But the state broadcaster ZBC also reports that 38 artisanal miners went underground for mining.
Just this week there also reports of a gold mine collapsing in Liberia, killing at least five people.
There are reports of some 35 people still missing from that disaster.
In South Africa last week some illegal miners were also killed after they were trapped underground.
Source: Africafeeds.com
