Eight illegal miners have been killed in an accident at a previously abandoned mine in Zimbabwe's Mazowe region north of the capital, officials say.

"So far indications are that one of the miners may have used an explosive to blast underground" on Sunday night causing the shaft to collapse, Mines Minister Winston Chitando told dpa on Monday.

Illegal mining is a common problem in mineral-rich Zimbabwe. In February, more than 20 miners died after an open mine flooded overnight. </s> HARARE - At least nine illegal gold miners have died in Zimbabwe after they detonated explosives underground and were trapped at a mine owned by unlisted London-headquartered Metallon Corporation north of the capital Harare, the company said on Monday.

Metallon put its Mazowe Mine on care and maintenance last September, citing viability problems. One of Zimbabwe’s biggest gold producers, it still operates three other mines.

Metallon said in a statement the mine collapse happened on Sunday when illegal miners gained access to underground shafts and blasted explosives.

“Tragically nine panners lost their lives. None of these miners were employees of Metallon and all those involved with keeping the mine on care and maintenance have been accounted for,” Metallon said.

At least 24 people died in February when underground shafts were flooded at two abandoned mines in Battlefield, which is to the west of Harare.

With formal unemployment above 80%, thousands of young men risk their lives daily working in dangerous underground tunnels in search of gold, Zimbabwe’s largest mineral export earner.

The southern African nation has been working to regulate thousands of people who illegally dig for gold everywhere, including on farms and abandoned mines, mostly under the cover of darkness. </s> At least nine illegal gold miners have died in Zimbabwe after they detonated explosives underground and were trapped at a mine owned by unlisted London-headquartered Metallon Corporation north of the capital Harare, the company said on Monday.

Metallon put its Mazowe Mine on care and maintenance last September, citing viability problems. One of Zimbabwe's biggest gold producers, it still operates three other mines.

Metallon said in a statement the mine collapse happened on Sunday when illegal miners gained access to underground shafts and blasted explosives. </s> Gunmen believed to be cattle rustlers have killed 36 miners in northern Nigeria, the government and residents said, the latest in a long-running series of such raids. By Pius Utomi Ekpei (AFP/File)

Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - Gunmen believed to be cattle rustlers have killed 36 miners in northern Nigeria, the government and residents said Tuesday, the latest in a long-running series of such raids.

Motorcycle-riding gunmen suspected to be cattle thieves invaded a goldmine late Monday outside Bindin village in northern Zamfara state, shooting dead miners and gold merchants. Many local herders turn to mining to boost their income. </s> HARARE (Reuters) - At least nine illegal gold miners have died in Zimbabwe after they detonated explosives underground and were trapped at a mine owned by unlisted London-headquartered Metallon Corporation north of the capital Harare, the company said on Monday.

Metallon put its Mazowe Mine on care and maintenance last September, citing viability problems. One of Zimbabwe's biggest gold producers, it still operates three other mines.

Metallon said in a statement the mine collapse happened on Sunday when illegal miners gained access to underground shafts and blasted explosives.

"Tragically nine panners lost their lives. None of these miners were employees of Metallon and all those involved with keeping the mine on care and maintenance have been accounted for," Metallon said.

At least 24 people died in February when underground shafts were flooded at two abandoned mines in Battlefield, which is to the west of Harare.

With formal unemployment above 80 percent, thousands of young men risk their lives daily working in dangerous underground tunnels in search of gold, Zimbabwe's largest mineral export earner.

The southern African nation has been working to regulate thousands of people who illegally dig for gold everywhere, including on farms and abandoned mines, mostly under the cover of darkness.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.

Your guide to the latest seat tally, live updates, analysis and list of winners for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 on firstpost.com/elections. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram or like our Instagram or like our Facebook page for updates from all 542 constituencies on counting day of the general elections. </s> At least nine miners died in Zimbabwe following blasts in a shaft north of the capital Harare where they were illegally digging for gold, police said on Tuesday.

“We confirm eight people died on Sunday night at Jumbo Mine in Mazowe while another person died later after another explosive went off while they were underground,” police spokesman Paul Nyathi told AFP.

“Their bodies were retrieved and investigations are being undertaken to establish how they got into the mine which was guarded at the entrance.

“One person sustained fractures and was admitted to hospital and we are told there could be more.”

The owners of the mine, Metallon Corporation, confirmed the incident and said none of the victims were company employees.

“Illegal panners invaded the mine and took part in illegal explosive blasting,” the company said in a statement.

In February, at least 24 illegal miners died and eight were rescued after water flooded two disused shafts in the mining town of Kadoma.

Accidents involving illegal or informal miners are common in Zimbabwe where many use makeshift equipment to earn a living.

The country has valuable platinum, diamond, gold, coal and copper deposits. </s> KADOMA, Zimbabwe (AP) - Searchers have recovered 24 bodies from a mine in Zimbabwe that was flooded after heavy rains, trapping dozens of subsistence miners underground.

Henrietta Rushwaya, leader of the country's small-scale miners' association, said Sunday that 23 of the bodies have been identified since the disaster on Tuesday near Kadoma.

Eight people were rescued from the flooded tunnels, and all but one have been discharged from a hospital after treatment.

The government is continuing its search, saying up to 70 gold miners may have been trapped after a dam wall collapsed and water rushed into nearby mining tunnels.

Large groups of people using picks, shovels and hoes are commonly seen in Zimbabwe's mineral-rich fields. The miners operate without regulation. Illegal mining has become rampant in a country where many people are unemployed.

A woman emerges from a tent where bodies of the small-scale gold miners who were caught underground Tuesday are being identified, on the outskirts of Kadoma town about 200 kilometres west of Harare, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019. Eight subsistence miners who were trapped underground for several days after heavy flooding in Zimbabwe were rescued on Saturday, though dozens of their co-workers are still missing and feared dead. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Mary Zindege waits for news of her son after dozens of small-scale gold miners were caught underground Tuesday on the outskirts of Kadoma town about 200 kilometres west of Harare, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019. Eight subsistence miners who were trapped underground for several days after heavy flooding in Zimbabwe were rescued on Saturday, though dozens of their co-workers are still missing and feared dead. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) </s> KADOMA, Zimbabwe — Searchers have recovered 24 bodies from a mine in Zimbabwe that was flooded after heavy rains, trapping dozens of subsistence miners underground.

Henrietta Rushwaya, leader of the country’s small-scale miners’ association, said Sunday that 23 of the bodies have been identified since the disaster on Tuesday near Kadoma.

Eight people were rescued from the flooded tunnels, and all but one have been discharged from a hospital after treatment.

The government is continuing its search, saying up to 70 gold miners may have been trapped after a dam wall collapsed and water rushed into nearby mining tunnels.

Large groups of people using picks, shovels and hoes are commonly seen in Zimbabwe’s mineral-rich fields. The miners operate without regulation. Illegal mining has become rampant in a country where many people are unemployed. </s> (KADOMA, Zimbabwe) — Searchers have recovered 24 bodies from a mine in Zimbabwe that was flooded after heavy rains, trapping dozens of subsistence miners underground.

Henrietta Rushwaya, leader of the country’s small-scale miners’ association, said Sunday that 23 of the bodies have been identified since the disaster on Tuesday near Kadoma.

Eight people were rescued from the flooded tunnels, and all but one have been discharged from a hospital after treatment.

The government is continuing its search, saying up to 70 gold miners may have been trapped after a dam wall collapsed and water rushed into nearby mining tunnels.

Large groups of people using picks, shovels and hoes are commonly seen in Zimbabwe’s mineral-rich fields. The miners operate without regulation. Illegal mining has become rampant in a country where many people are unemployed.
Eight miners die in a goldmine explosion in central Zimbabwe.