At least nine miners died in Zimbabwe following blasts in a shaft north of the capital Harare where they were illegally digging for gold, police said on Tuesday.

“We confirm eight people died on Sunday night at Jumbo Mine in Mazowe while another person died later after another explosive went off while they were underground,” police spokesman Paul Nyathi told AFP.

“Their bodies were retrieved and investigations are being undertaken to establish how they got into the mine which was guarded at the entrance.

“One person sustained fractures and was admitted to hospital and we are told there could be more.”

The owners of the mine, Metallon Corporation, confirmed the incident and said none of the victims were company employees.

“Illegal panners invaded the mine and took part in illegal explosive blasting,” the company said in a statement.

In February, at least 24 illegal miners died and eight were rescued after water flooded two disused shafts in the mining town of Kadoma.

Accidents involving illegal or informal miners are common in Zimbabwe where many use makeshift equipment to earn a living.

The country has valuable platinum, diamond, gold, coal and copper deposits. </s> At least nine illegal gold miners have died in Zimbabwe after they detonated explosives underground and were trapped at a mine owned by unlisted London-headquartered Metallon Corporation north of the capital Harare, the company said on Monday.

Metallon put its Mazowe Mine on care and maintenance last September, citing viability problems. One of Zimbabwe's biggest gold producers, it still operates three other mines.

Metallon said in a statement the mine collapse happened on Sunday when illegal miners gained access to underground shafts and blasted explosives. </s> Eight illegal miners have been killed in an accident at a previously abandoned mine in Zimbabwe's Mazowe region north of the capital, officials say.

"So far indications are that one of the miners may have used an explosive to blast underground" on Sunday night causing the shaft to collapse, Mines Minister Winston Chitando told dpa on Monday.

Illegal mining is a common problem in mineral-rich Zimbabwe. In February, more than 20 miners died after an open mine flooded overnight. </s> HARARE - At least nine illegal gold miners have died in Zimbabwe after they detonated explosives underground and were trapped at a mine owned by unlisted London-headquartered Metallon Corporation north of the capital Harare, the company said on Monday.

Metallon put its Mazowe Mine on care and maintenance last September, citing viability problems. One of Zimbabwe’s biggest gold producers, it still operates three other mines.

Metallon said in a statement the mine collapse happened on Sunday when illegal miners gained access to underground shafts and blasted explosives.

“Tragically nine panners lost their lives. None of these miners were employees of Metallon and all those involved with keeping the mine on care and maintenance have been accounted for,” Metallon said.

At least 24 people died in February when underground shafts were flooded at two abandoned mines in Battlefield, which is to the west of Harare.

With formal unemployment above 80%, thousands of young men risk their lives daily working in dangerous underground tunnels in search of gold, Zimbabwe’s largest mineral export earner.

The southern African nation has been working to regulate thousands of people who illegally dig for gold everywhere, including on farms and abandoned mines, mostly under the cover of darkness. </s> Harare, Feb 16 (IANS) Over 60 gold miners are believed to have died in two mining shafts after a nearby dam burst in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland West province, authorities have said.

The number of illegal miners who could have been trapped was estimated at between 60 and 70, Xinhua news agency quoted Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo as saying on Friday.

In a statement, Moyo said hopes of finding survivors are fading following heavy rains that pounded the area during night.

Rescuers successfully pumped out water from two interlinked tunnels, and work to retrieve the bodies is expected to start on Saturday, he added.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the incident a ‘State of Disaster’ on Friday.

Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka said the tragedy was a big wake-up call for mining authorities and the miners on the need to adhere to safety standards. </s> AT LEAST nine illegal gold panners have died while several more are believed to be still trapped underground at a Jumbo Mine in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central province.

According to government, the tragic incident happened Sunday evening when a dynamite exploded in the area they were mining at the Metallon Gold Corporation owned mine.

In a statement Monday, the company said none of its employees died in the explosion.

Metallon said it regretted the deaths of 9 illegal gold miners.

“Illegal gold miners invaded the mine and took part in unlawfully explosive blasting, tragically nine miners lost their lives.

“None of all these miners were employees of Metallon and all those involved with keeping the mine on care and maintenance have been accounted for,” Klara Kaczmarek said.

The company stopped operations last year, something that has seen illegal gold panners invade the place in search of the precious mineral.

“Government received tragic news of a mining incident at Jumbo Mine in Mazoe,” the country’s Information Ministry said through its twitter page Monday.

“Information at hand indicates that some people engaged in unauthorised mining exploded dynamite in one shaft causing a collapse in an adjacent shaft.

“8 bodies have been recovered so far, investigations are underway.”

Police officer commanding Bindura district, Chief Superintendent David Tizwe said investigations of the exact cause of the explosion are still going on.

“I can confirm that there is an incident where 8 illegal gold miners have died. We are yet to investigate,” he told NewZimbabwe.com Monday.

Jumbo Mine halted operations last year owing to operational challenges which left many of its former employees jobless with some reportedly having resorted to illegal mining.

Information says the mine has a total of 247 claims over 2 939 hectares of land holding.

The Jumbo Mine disaster comes months after 23 illegal Kadoma miners died after they were trapped inside two mine shafts by floods. </s> Eight illegal gold miners died while one sustained serious injuries and two escaped unhurt on Sunday evening when an explosive suspected to be a dynamite went off underground at Metallon Gold’s Jumbo Mine in Mazowe.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Petros Masikati confirmed the incident, saying four bodies have been identified but the names are being withheld until their next of kin have been advised.

“The incident occurred on May 26 at around 10pm at Metallon Gold Mine in Mazowe. A team of 11 illegal miners entered Jumbo Mine on May 25 at around 6pm,” said Ass Insp Masikati.

“The group entered through the connaught main shaft which is inside the mine complex, a place guarded by security guards. The following day on May 26 while the group was passing through level two intending to go to level nine an explosive believed to be a dynamite went off.

“The explosive is believed to have been set by another team of illegal gold miners whose identify is yet to be ascertained. The blast claimed the lives of the eight, one of them was blown to pieces while the others succumbed to head injuries

“Two escaped unhurt and another, who sustained a fractured hand and bruises is admitted at Concession Hospital. A report was made at Jumbo police base and they attended the scene.

“The bodies of the miners were retrieved by the mine’s rescue team and sent to Concession Mortuary,”

“We regret the loss of life and we encourage people to regularise their mining activities. When people get proper documentation for their mining activities they will be able to practise safe mining and know the requirements to safeguard their lives,” said Asst Insp Masikati. The Chronicle </s> HARARE (Reuters) - At least nine illegal gold miners have died in Zimbabwe after they detonated explosives underground and were trapped at a mine owned by unlisted London-headquartered Metallon Corporation north of the capital Harare, the company said on Monday.

Metallon put its Mazowe Mine on care and maintenance last September, citing viability problems. One of Zimbabwe's biggest gold producers, it still operates three other mines.

Metallon said in a statement the mine collapse happened on Sunday when illegal miners gained access to underground shafts and blasted explosives.

"Tragically nine panners lost their lives. None of these miners were employees of Metallon and all those involved with keeping the mine on care and maintenance have been accounted for," Metallon said.

At least 24 people died in February when underground shafts were flooded at two abandoned mines in Battlefield, which is to the west of Harare.

With formal unemployment above 80 percent, thousands of young men risk their lives daily working in dangerous underground tunnels in search of gold, Zimbabwe's largest mineral export earner.

The southern African nation has been working to regulate thousands of people who illegally dig for gold everywhere, including on farms and abandoned mines, mostly under the cover of darkness.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.

Your guide to the latest seat tally, live updates, analysis and list of winners for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 on firstpost.com/elections. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram or like our Instagram or like our Facebook page for updates from all 542 constituencies on counting day of the general elections. </s> Eight gold miners who were trapped underground for several days after heavy flooding in Zimbabwe have been rescued, though some of their co-workers are still missing and feared dead.

Eight gold miners who were trapped underground for several days after heavy flooding in Zimbabwe have been rescued, though some of their co-workers are still missing and feared dead.

Rescuers on Saturday pulled the exhausted, muddied survivors from the ground and took them to a tent for medical treatment.

Relatives waiting at the scene ululated, cheered and hugged each other.

Dozens of gold miners were caught underground on the outskirts of Kadoma, west of the Zimbabwean capital of Harare, on Tuesday.

It is unclear how many miners remain trapped. The government has said a total of between 60 and 70 people were working underground at the time of the accident.
Eight miners die in a goldmine explosion in central Zimbabwe.