Nine Men Killed in Zambia Quarry Collapse

Nine Men Killed in Zambia Quarry Collapse

Nine men lost their lives when a massive pile of gravel collapsed on them while they were working in a quarry in Zambia, authorities reported on Monday. The incident occurred on Sunday in Chongwe, located approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of Lusaka, the capital city.

The men, who were operating illegally at the quarry, were in the process of loading gravel onto a truck when the collapse happened. The truck driver survived but sustained injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment, according to police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga.

The rescue operation, which involved recovering the bodies from beneath the rubble, managed to retrieve eight bodies on Sunday before it was halted due to darkness. The ninth body was recovered the following day, as confirmed by the police. Chongwe District Commissioner Evans Lupiya reported that both the men and the truck were buried under the gravel.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the collapse and to address the safety issues related to illegal quarry operations. This tragic event is part of a broader issue in Zambia, where there have been several fatal accidents involving informal mining operations. In a similar incident in December, nearly 30 informal miners died at an open-pit copper mine in northern Zambia when landslides triggered by heavy trains engulfed them within tunnels.

The tragedy underscores the dangers associated with illegal mining and quarrying activities and highlights the need for stricter safety regulations and enforcement to prevent such accidents in the future.

Source: Africa News