Zambian police have confirmed the death of at least 10 people and an increasing number of missing persons after a mine collapse on Monday.
Authorities said rescue operations were underway and it wasn’t clear exactly how many miners were underground. The collapse occurred in the district of Mumbwa, about 150 kilometres (93 miles) west of the capital, Lusaka. No cause was immediately given for the collapse.
Police Commissioner for the Central Province, Charity Munganga Chanda in an engagement with reporters said that nine bodies were recovered from the site and a tenth person died in a hospital. Five were injured and were treated in the hospital.
Collins Nzovu, a government minister and the local member of Parliament, said 20 miners were missing and feared dead, although police didn’t confirm that number.
The miners are suspected of being informal ones, which is common in the southern African country.