Four artisanal miners were left dead in a catastrophic collapse at the disused Chengxi Gold Mine. The men, who were reportedly prospecting illegally, became trapped when the unstable shaft gave way without warning, burying them under tonnes of rock and earth.
Rescue teams faced a perilous and heartbreaking task, with the compromised ground making any swift recovery impossible. After a gruelling multi-day operation, the retrieval teams finally brought the four bodies to the surface this past Tuesday. The remains have since been transported to Gweru Provincial Hospital for official post-mortem examinations.
The police have once again urged all miners to prioritise their safety and to strictly adhere to established mining regulations to prevent further unnecessary loss of life.
