A tragic incident occurred in a quarry near the Zambian capital on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of nine men.
The men were illegally operating in the quarry, loading gravel onto a truck when a large pile of gravel collapsed onto them.
The accident happened in Chongwe, about 50 kilometers east of Lusaka.
While the truck driver survived with injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, the nine workers were buried under the rubble.
Rescue efforts continued throughout the night and into the following day.
Authorities were able to recover eight bodies on Sunday before suspending operations due to darkness. On Monday, the ninth body was pulled from the debris.
The incident has prompted an investigation by Zambian police.
Local officials warn of the dangers associated with illegal mining activities in the country. This is not the first time such a tragedy has occurred in Zambia.
In December 2023, nearly 30 informal miners lost their lives in a similar incident at a copper mine.