Friday, December 27, 2024

Update on Chingola Mine Accident

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Rescue workers in Chingola successfully pulled a survivor from the debris of the collapsed Senseli Mine in Chingola, nearly a week after the devastating landslide trapped numerous miners. The survivor, identified as Mwanshe Mukoko, is currently undergoing treatment at Nchanga South Hospital in Chingola.

Mukoko, aged 49 and a resident of Chingola Township, shared his harrowing ordeal from his hospital bed, describing the five days he spent struggling for survival in the collapsed slug mine pit. The rescue team managed to reach him, offering a glimmer of hope amid the ongoing search and rescue operation coordinated by the government.

The operation has faced numerous challenges.The unfavorable weather conditions, soft ground, and continuous rain have added complexity to the operation with only one person so far been rescued alive while 2 bodies have been retrieved.

The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit reported that the search and rescue team has been working tirelessly around the clock since the accident occurred, with the aim of retrieving all trapped miners. The collaboration involves various stakeholders, including government agencies, military personnel, and representatives from large-scale mining companies.

The Chingola mine accident occurred on December 1, inundating the open-pit copper mine and trapping a significant number of miners who were reportedly working without proper permits. Conflicting reports about the exact number of trapped miners have surfaced, with government officials estimating over 30 individuals, while the district commissioner mentioned at least 36.

Illegal mining is suspected to be a contributing factor to the accident, as artisanal miners are known to enter mines without the knowledge of the owners. Authorities are focused on the rescue operation, prioritizing the safety and well-being of those trapped underground.

President Hakainde Hichilema visited the site on Tuesday, expressing hope for survivors. He emphasized the commitment to saving lives, stating, Here there is no illegal miner. Our job is to take our people out of the pit,” he said. “Our commitment is to do everything to save the lives that are down there.”

Senseli mine rescue operation

22 COMMENTS

  1. “Illegal mining is suspected to be a contributing factor to the accident, as artisanal miners are known to enter mines without the knowledge of the owners. Authorities are focused on the rescue operation, prioritizing the safety and well-being of those trapped underground.”
    Please stop looking for ways to exculpate the owners of the mine. He must be arrested , charged with mass murder and jailed.
    For your information the so called illegal miners are indirectly employed by the owner of the mine who buys the ore they extract from those tunnels.

  2. While Zambians were dying, mad hh was busy gallivanting with whltes in dubai. He then come back to zambia and starts ranting telling people to stop drinking and yet the only one drunk with power is him. Hh is a mad guy

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    • @Kaizar “Kamyanga mukongo wa nyoko” Zulu: Zambians are starving because PF under Michael Satan and Edgar “Johnathan Mutawire” Lungu store the US $4 billion they found in the reserves of Zambia and then borrowed and stole an additional US $33 billion. To make matters worse, the clueless economic management of PF reduced the GDP of Zambia from US $28 billion to US $22.15 billion. The owners of the US $33 billion debt are demanding payment, but since Zambia cannot pay the money, they have forced it to remove all the subsidies on mealie and other commodities, and taken that money to help satisfy loan payments. The suffering of Zambians is the complete fault of you and PF, MUSATA NYOKO!

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  3. In fact Ministers should not be at the ICU bedside. They can pass their support messages via medical staff. Near the patient, there should be as few people as is neccessary to a recovering ICU patient

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  4. Kabuswe has failed and dissapointed the Zambians. How did he allow this to happen under his nose? His constituency is very close to this ” illegal ” Mine. How did it let it go on in an illegal fashion?
    Ba Kapoka nabo should not pretend. He knows very well about this mine. Tell us. Mawaipaya abana besu!!

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