AFRICA NEWS

24 bodies recovered from flooded gold mine in Zimbabwe

The bodies of 24 gold miners have been recovered from a flooded mine in Zimbabwe, and rescuers have pulled out eight survivors who had been trapped underground, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Authorities said the accident happened after shafts and underground tunnels where the illegal miners were working became flooded by water from a burst dam last Tuesday. The survivors were rescued last Saturday at the mine located 90 miles southwest of the capital, Harare.

Zimbabwe’s deputy mines minister, Polite Kambamura, on Monday said search operations would continue in the area, saying that around 70 workers are feared trapped in the incident.

Women console a mourner as relatives arrive to await news on the return of the body of one of the miners. Kambamura said rescuers were experiencing difficulties accessing the area due to the size of the shafts in the flooded tunnel. A photo from the scene of the disaster showed one of the rescued miners covered in thick brown mud being pulled from a pit at the mines. Victor Rupende from the Zimbabwe Miners Federation, one of the groups coordinating the search, told CNN heavy rains have also hampered rescue operations at the mine.

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the incident a national disaster, adding that the government will continue to provide assistance to those working to find the missing miners.

Families and residents awaiting the news of their loved ones have camped out at the mining site in Battlefields, a rural settlement rich in gold deposits, where artisanal mining is common.

Henrietta Rushwaya, president of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation, urged the government to formalize the operations of artisanal miners to promote safety in the sector.

Zimbabwe is rich in minerals such as diamonds, uranium, chrome, platinum and gold. Revenues from the industry still account for about 30% of government income.

 

 

Source: edition.cnn.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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