At least nine people died in three days following a series of landslides linked to illegal mining activity in Vanduzi district, Manica province, in central Mozambique, news agency Lusa reported on Friday, 11 September.
The district administrator, Armindo Canhenze, said six people died in the early hours of Thursday after a landslide at an illegal mining site known locally as 'Seis Carros'. Two further deaths were recorded on Wednesday and one on Tuesday, also at artisanal mining sites in the province.
'Instead of five people entering Seis Carros, two thousand or three thousand people end up going in. The numbers are too large — there is no longer any discipline, no rules,' Canhenze said, explaining that the high concentration of artisanal miners significantly raises the risk of ground collapse.
According to Canhenze, the search for gold has driven a progressive expansion of the excavation area, which now reaches approximately 20 metres in depth and 25 metres in diameter.
The digging began at around half a metre deep following the initial discovery of gold at the site, an find that successively drew more prospectors. The administrator noted that during the rainy season, the movement of hundreds or thousands of people through the site weakens the ground and increases the risk of burial.
The deaths of the six people on Thursday were confirmed by the Mozambican Republic Police (PRM), which stated that the victims died as a result of the landslide and that no injuries were recorded. The PRM spokesperson in Manica, Mouzinho Manasse, said that poor visibility at night hampers the monitoring of mining sites.
'The collapses that have been occurring typically happen between midnight and three in the morning, a period when visibility is very limited,' Manasse said.
Authorities are preparing an excavator to fill in the pit and intend to maintain a police presence at the site to prevent further entry, according to Canhenze, who added that the bodies of the victims had already been recovered and handed over to their families.
The administrator added that authorities are enforcing the decree suspending mining activity and have already organised six cooperatives, submitting documentation for a potential resumption of mining under the conditions set by the authorities.
Illegal Mining and Environmental Violations
The incidents come at a time when authorities have expressed growing concern over uncontrolled illegal mining in Manica, citing risks to local communities, environmental damage, and the unregulated extraction of mineral resources.
In July, the Attorney General's Office (PGR) raised the alarm over the presence of minors in illegal mining operations in Manica, after identifying approximately 900 excavation points where multiple individuals were working, including children under 15 years of age.
Also in June, the Chamber of Mines warned of 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 discoveries of new critical minerals.
In 2025, the government suspended the licences of several mining companies due to environmental violations, including the absence of soil rehabilitation plans and waste containment systems, following a report by the Defence and Security Forces describing 'uncontrolled mining' in the province.
However, according to information updated by the government in August, 30 of the 41 suspended mining companies in Manica have since been authorised to resume operations after meeting environmental requirements and mining standards. The remaining companies are still under review.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/12/oilgas/extractivas/manica-desabamento-em-zona-de-mineracao-ilegal-mata-nove-pessoas-em-tres-dias/
