It has been 6 days since an estimated 40 people were trapped at 3 points at Senseli Mine in Chingola after heavy downpour caused the makeshift mine to cave in on the victims. Rescue teams have been drawn in from Nkana, Mufulira, Mopani, Nchanga, KCM, as well as Zambia National Service and Commando Officers.
As the nation spends a tumultuous time waiting, rescue efforts at Senseli Mine in Chingola are finally making progress to rescue the trapped artisinal miners along with others. So far, the rescue teams have rescued three people, a 49-year-old man who was found alive, while also retrieving the bodies of two unidentified men who, unfortunately, did not survive the ordeal.
The survivor, Mwanshe Mukoko of Chingola Township, was rescued around 21:00 hours last night, and is currently receiving treatment at Nchanga South Hospital in Chingola.
The rescue teams continue to search tirelessly for more survivors, as onlookers hold their breaths with anticipation and hope.
No rain has been recorded since the Friday heavy downpour that caused the incident, which has allowed the rescue teams to continue their search as they race against time.
Further rain may cause further collapse of the already unstable makeshift mine and put the trapped Miners’ lives even more at risk due to a number of factors such as drowning and asphyxiation. Another mud slide might make rescue efforts even more difficult and dangerous for the rescue teams.
The rescue teams are going through strenuous efforts to dewater the shafts, which are waterlogged in certain areas, by using pumps and even buckets. The efforts are made more complex as locations of the shafts are hard to decipher as they were made illegally without any documentation or labelling.
While the exact dimensions of the tunnels are unclear, what is known from video evidence provided, is that some spaces are just large enough for an average-sized male to crawl through, with no head room to stand at certain points.
Copperbelt Minister, Elisha Matambo, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Hon. Chipoka Mulenga, as well as Mines & Minerals Development Minister, Hon. Paul Kabuswe, are on site to update the nation on the situation. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Hon. Chipoka Mulenga, offered his thanks to all the players involved in the efforts and called on the clergy to commit the country in prayer.
Some private companies have also come on board to offer their support to the rescue efforts, pledging items such as bottled water, mealie meal, and drinks.
Meanwhile, President Hakainde Hichilema visited the site yesterday. In an address to the nation, he called on the affected families not to mourn as he is hopeful that the victims will be retrieved alive.
The government has pledged to continue to address the nation on any developments as efforts continue.
By Natasha Bwalya & Lovemore Sondashi