At least five people have died following the collapse of a tunnel at a disused gold mine in south-western Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Information has announced.
The ministry said in a statement on Tuesday night that the five were part of 18 artisanal miners who were trapped underground after a tunnel at Nugget Mine in Matobo, Matabeleland South province, caved in while they were working on Monday.
The ministry said “5 Bodies and a helmet suspected to belong to a 6th individual have been retrieved” from the tunnel.
An unknown number of other artisanal miners are still trapped underground, with the ministry saying investigations are underway.
The mine is located about 40 kilometres south of Zimbabwe’s second largest city Bulawayo.
JN/APA