Rescue operations continued at a Tanzanian mine three days after it collapsed, burying at least 25 workers, President Samia Suluhu Hassan said. The accident occurred Monday during maintenance at the Nyandolwa gold mine in northwestern Shinyanga Region, roughly 200 kilometres north of Dodoma.
In a statement on X, Hassan confirmed that “25 of our compatriots working at the mine were buried under debris,” expressing deep sorrow. She said security agencies would support fire and rescue teams to “expedite the ongoing rescue operation” amid challenging conditions underground.
Shinyanga Regional Commissioner Mboni Mhita called for patience and calm, urging the public to continue supporting the rescue efforts. “The buried workers were conducting maintenance in the shafts,” Mhita said, highlighting the risks miners face during routine operations.
Tanzania, Africa’s fourth-largest gold producer, has a history of mining accidents, with workers often lacking proper safety equipment and oversight. In January 2024, 22 miners died in a northern gold mine landslide after torrential rains struck the region.
Previously, in January 2017, 15 miners were rescued after being trapped underground for two days following a collapse, underscoring ongoing safety challenges. Authorities continue to search through debris, hoping to recover survivors while families wait anxiously for news from the site.