At least ten miners died and five were injured on Saturday, April 4, after a mine collapsed in the district of Vanduzi, Manica province, in central Mozambique, local authorities announced. The incident occurred in the area known as “Seis Carros,” where a large number of young people gather in search of a livelihood through mining.
The Secretary of State for Manica Province, Lourenço Lindonde, urged caution in the search for resources and the adoption of safe practices. “It is true that we must seek a livelihood, but this must be done in accordance with rules and behaviors that prevent situations like these, where people die,” the official stated.
According to Lourenço Lindonde, the mine had already recorded dozens of deaths in recent weeks due to illegal mining. “The recent incident resulted in ten deaths and the rescue of five people, three of whom are in serious condition,” he said, noting that mining must be conducted with proper equipment and in compliance with state regulations.
The Secretary of State emphasized the importance of miners organizing themselves and paying taxes. “We encourage people engaged in mining to respect the rules governing mining, not only in Manica Province but throughout the country,” stressed Lourenço Lindonde, calling for discipline and respect for legal standards.
For her part, Manica Governor Francisca Tomás expressed regret over the incident and called for sustainable mining. “We wish to convey our condolences and offer our support to the bereaved families, while urging all miners—especially artisanal miners—to conduct their activities in a sustainable manner to prevent further deaths in our province,” she added.
Incidents at the same mine had already occurred this year. On January 16, three miners died of asphyxiation in an incident involving a generator, according to Mozambican Defense Minister Cristóvão Chume. On January 8, one person died and two others were seriously injured in a cave-in, according to a source at the Manica Provincial Hospital.
This Saturday’s cave-in occurred when more than 100 people entered the mine to extract resources, but only three injured people, all men, were admitted to the Manica Provincial Hospital. These incidents are occurring amid a government suspension of mining activities, aimed at curbing erosion and landslides caused by unregulated mining.
Source: Lusa
