LUSAKA: More than 30 people were feared trapped when a mine collapse in a Zambian region, Home Affairs Minister said on Friday.
Minister Jack Mwiimbu told parliament that the region where the mine collapsed is known for illegal open-cast digging for copper.
“May I just inform the nation that we have a tragedy brewing in Chingola,”he said
The minister without giving further details said more than 30 people are under the rubble in a makeshift mine.
The mines ministry made no comment in this regard saying it would make an inspection first at the site in the Chingola region before issuing any official statement.
The mine is located about 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of the capital Lusaka.
Zambia is one of the largest world’s copper producers and Chingola is country’s copper-belt area.
The area has one of the world’s largest copper mines and some of the waste hills are 100 metres (300 feet) high.
