“At least seven feared dead in gold mine collapse in Tanzania"

At least seven miners were feared dead after they were trapped in a gold mine following the collapse of Buhemba gold mine on Monday in Tanzania’s northern region of Mara…Reports…said at least five miners were trapped and 13 others rescued after a gold mine belonging to State Mining Corporation (STAMICO) collapsed in the region.

Annarose Nyamubi, Butiama District Commissioner, said rescuers managed to dig out two bodies of the miners on Tuesday, adding: “We fear that five more miners are still trapped underground...It would be difficult to dig out more bodies as the pit is full of water and pieces of rocks inside,”…Nyamubi said information received from 13 miners rescued on Tuesday indicated that there were seven more miners still trapped underground…Mara Regional Commissioner, Charles Mlingwa, said four of the 13 rescued miners were in critical conditions.

Mlingwa said a team of rescuers were working round the clock to save the lives of the trapped miners…Mlingwa said information from the rescued miners had it that five of the miners still trapped underground were difficult to reach because their entrances had been blocked by huge rocks that fell when the mine collapsed. “The mining pit is full of water,” said Mlingwa, adding that the government has suspended mining activities in the area.