Eleven informal miners have been confirmed dead following landslides at an open-pit copper mine in Zambia. The incident occurred on November 30, when heavy rain triggered landslides, burying miners working in three separate tunnels. Rescuers have recovered 11 bodies, while one survivor, a 49-year-old man, was rescued and is recovering in the hospital, as reported by AP.
Despite ongoing efforts to locate missing miners, with 26 still unaccounted for, government officials estimate that up to 38 miners may have been buried. The disaster took place near the city of Chingola, part of Zambia's copper belt, and authorities are relying on families to report missing relatives.
The challenging conditions, including flooded tunnels and debris, have complicated the rescue operation. The army has been assisting in pumping out water and clearing rocks and earth from the site. The miners were reportedly engaged in illegal copper ore mining without the knowledge of the mine owner, making it difficult for authorities to determine the exact number trapped underground.
Zambia, a top copper producer globally, has open-pit mines in Chingola, with extensive waste piles of rocks and earth. The government attributes the incident to the collapse of debris from one of these waste piles during heavy rain. Informal mining, lacking proper safety precautions, is common in the area.
President Hakainde Hichilema visited the mine last week, expressing hope for additional survivors despite the grim situation.
