BY STAFF REPORTER
Two artisanal miners have died following the collapse of a flooded mine shaft at Cement Side in Umguza District, ZBC has reported.
The incident occurred early Tuesday morning after heavy water ingress caused the shaft to give way, trapping the two men underground.
When rescue teams arrived at the scene, officers from the Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Services Department, assisted by local volunteers, were leading recovery efforts.
A survivor of the incident, Khulumani Nkomo, described the terrifying moments leading up to the collapse.
“We heard a loud cracking sound as we reached the ground, then water started rushing in. The two were behind us, and the shaft just closed, trapping the other one in the tunnel,” he said.
Nkomo added that attempts to rescue the trapped miners proved futile.
“We tried to dig with our hands and tools, but the water kept coming. By the time help arrived, it was already too late.”
A brother of one of the deceased miners said the family is struggling to cope with the loss, revealing that the victim was only 19 years old.