Rescue operations are currently ongoing at a Tanzanian mine that tragically collapsed three days ago, ultimately burying at least twenty-five people, President Samia Suluhu Hassan said Thursday. The devastating accident on Monday occurred as crucial maintenance was actively being conducted at the Nyandolwa gold mine located in the northwestern Shinyanga Region, roughly 200 kilometers from the capital.
In a statement posted on social media, President Hassan confirmed her “great sadness” over the incident and announced that “25 of our compatriots working at the mine were tragically buried under debris.” She stated that security agencies would immediately be assisting fire and rescue forces in their efforts to significantly expedite the ongoing rescue operation at the site.
At the scene of the tragedy, Shinyanga Regional Commissioner Mboni Mhita urged the public for patience, stating that nobody expected the sudden and tragic accident to happen. Tanzania is widely known as the continent’s fourth-largest gold producer, where mining accidents are unfortunately not uncommon as miners often lack adequate safety equipment.
In January of last year, for instance, a devastating landslide at another gold mine in the northern part of the country killed twenty-two miners after being hit by torrential rain. In a similar event, fifteen individuals were miraculously rescued after being trapped underground for two whole days after their mine unexpectedly collapsed in January 2017.
