In a tragic incident, six members of the same family are among eight illegal miners who died when a section of earth collapsed at the Cop 5 dumpsite in Chingola in Zambia.
According to Edward Mulenga, who reported the incident to the police, the accident took place as the miners, including six of his nephews, were extracting copper ores at the KCM Chingola site only two miners survied.
Copperbelt police commissioner Peacewell Mweemba confirmed the identities of the deceased, which include Erick Changwe (24), Mapalo Chinyama (24), Robert (surname unknown, 23), Richard Chitambo (21), Chileshe (surname unknown), and Jeremiah (surname unknown). An additional victim, an unidentified male known as “Strong Man” from Solwezi Road, was also recovered.
The miners left home around 18:00 hours to work at the dumpsite. While working, the ground suddenly gave way, burying them under a massive earth collapse. Fellow miners attempted a rescue, but by the time the bodies were retrieved, all eight miners had succumbed to their injuries.
The bodies have been moved to Nchanga North General Hospital mortuary for postmortems, though the body of Dominic Mwanza, another deceased miner, remains trapped under the collapsed earth.
The two surviving miners, Charles Katanfya (30) and James Lwipa (18), are currently receiving treatment at Nchanga North Hospital, where their conditions are reported as stable.
