State television reported on Saturday that three miners lost their lives, and there are concerns that 18 others may be trapped following the collapse of a shaft in an informal gold mine in Zimbabwe.
The incident took place on Friday in Chegutu, located approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) to the west of the capital city, Harare, according to ZBC.
“Three bodies have been retrieved from the collapsed Bay Horse Mine in Chegutu,” it said.
“The bodies were found underneath some rocks in a search operation being undertaken by government with the assistance of some artisanal miners.”
The southern African country possesses extensive reserves of platinum, diamonds, gold, coal, and copper. However, due to the struggling economy, illegal mining is rampant and frequently occurs in hazardous environments.
Incidents like these are unfortunately frequent. In February 2019, a total of 24 miners lost their lives when an abandoned pit became inundated with water after heavy rains in central Zimbabwe.