GWERU, Jul 8 (NewsDay Live) - Two artisanal miners were buried alive Tuesday evening following a shaft collapse at Vigilant Gold Mine in Kwekwe.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident, which occurred in Kwekwe, and said three of the miners, however, managed to escape alive.
The deceased have been identified as Busani Nyathi and Proud Maphosa, while the identities of the survivors have not been revealed.
"We confirm receipt of a report of a mine accident which claimed the lives of two miners while three others managed to escape," Mahoko said.
"He said the two were working underground with three others, and when they reached a depth of about 200 metres, a block of soil collapsed from the roof of the shaft, covering the miners."
He said police retrieved the bodies and took them to Kwekwe Hospital mortuary.
"We remind all persons who do mining business to follow all safety guidelines provided under the Mines and Minerals Act, Chapter 21:05," he said.
At least 70 people have died in mining accidents recorded between January and May this year, most of them in unregistered mines.
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