Four illegal miners lost their lives after a pit wall collapsed at New Scene Gold Mine in Shiwang’andu District, northern Zambia, on Sunday afternoon. Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga on Monday, October 6, said the men were manually mining gold when the tragedy occurred. Rescuers rushed to the scene, but by the time they reached the miners, all four had already died. Their bodies have since been identified by police.
Hamoonga used the incident to renew calls for the public to desist from illegal mining activities. The discovery of gold and other minerals in various parts of Zambia has intensified unauthorised mining, despite government initiatives to regulate and license small-scale operations. Authorities continue to stress the dangers associated with unregulated mining practices.