At least six people were killed following a landslide on Wednesday, 9 September, at the Seis Carros mine in Vanduzi district, Manica province, in central Mozambique, the Mozambique Republic Police (PRM) confirmed, as cited by the Lusa news agency.
The head of the Public Relations Department of the Provincial Command and PRM spokesperson in Manica, Mouzinho Manasse, said there were no reported injuries in the incident, adding that authorities had not yet disclosed the identities of the victims or further details regarding the circumstances of the collapse.
“Six people died. There are no injured,” Mouzinho Manasse stated, as quoted by Lusa.
Collapses happened during the night
According to the PRM spokesperson, many miners enter extraction zones between midnight and 03h00, a period during which reduced visibility hampers inspection efforts and increases the risks associated with mining activity.
“The collapses that have been occurring typically happen between midnight and three in the morning, a period when visibility is very limited,” he explained.
Mouzinho Manasse added that the police maintain patrol teams in the area but acknowledged that the characteristics of mining zones make night-time oversight particularly difficult.
Following the incident, authorities reinforced patrols at the site and dispatched a team to assess the situation and identify measures aimed at reducing the risks associated with mining activity.
Unregulated mining worries the authorities
The accident occurred in a province where authorities have expressed growing concern over unregulated mining, owing to the risks it poses to communities, its environmental impacts, and the illegal exploitation of mineral resources.
In July, the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) raised the alarm over the presence of minors in illegal mining activities in Manica, after identifying approximately 900 excavation sites where various individuals were working, including children under the age of 15.
The situation prompted authorities to intensify scrutiny of the conditions under which mineral extraction activities are carried out, particularly in areas where exploitation occurs without adequate controls.
In June, the Mozambique Chamber of Mines also flagged the problems associated with uncontrolled mining in the province and called for greater coordination between public and private institutions, at a time when Manica is recording the discovery of new minerals considered critical.
Government keeps company suspensions in place
Concerns over mining activity in the province have also been reflected in measures adopted by the Government in 2025, when licences held by companies in the sector were suspended due to environmental irregularities.
Among the problems identified were the absence of soil rehabilitation plans and waste containment systems. The decision followed a report by the Defence and Security Forces that pointed to the existence of “uncontrolled mining” in the province.
However, according to information updated by the Government in August, 30 of the 41 mining companies suspended in Manica have since received authorisation to resume operations, after meeting the applicable environmental requirements and sector standards.
The remaining 11 companies remain under evaluation by the authorities.
The latest collapse once again highlights the risks associated with mining in Manica, a province where authorities are seeking to balance the exploitation of mineral resources with compliance with safety and environmental protection standards.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/11/oilgas/extractivas/manica-desabamento-em-mina-mata-seis-pessoas/
