CHINGOLA, ZAMBIA – A tragic incident has unfolded in Zambia’s copperbelt, Chingola, where over 30 individuals are feared trapped under debris following a presumed collapse of a waste pile at an open-pit mine, according to a government official’s statement on Friday.
Jack Mwiimbu, the Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister, informed the Parliament about the unfortunate event that took place approximately 248 miles north of Zambia’s capital, Lusaka. “We have a brewing tragedy in Chingola. A number of our citizens have been affected by the collapse of the open pit,” Mwiimbu stated. “Over 30 people are under the rubble, and we are grappling with their retrieval.”
Rescue teams have been dispatched to the site, confirmed the Minister. Paul Kabuswe, the Mines and Minerals Development Minister, was also present on the scene. He reported that no survivors have been found so far, and the exact number of people under the rubble remains uncertain.
Chingola is known for its informal artisanal mining, although it remains unclear whether the trapped individuals were part of this sector. Zambia, a southern African country, ranks among the world’s top ten copper producers and also mines cobalt in Chingola.
Chingola hosts one of the largest open-pit mines globally, with operations extending over 6.2 miles. The region is characterized by enormous waste dumps composed of rock and earth excavated from the mines.