By Xinhua

HARARE: Efforts continue to bring to the surface more than 10 miners trapped underground after a mineshaft collapsed Thursday morning at Redwing Mine in Penhalonga, Manicaland Province.

July Moyo, acting minister of local government and public works, said in a statement dated Jan. 5 and shared with the media on Saturday that government-led joint efforts to rescue the trapped miners are underway.

“In responding to this unfortunate accident, the government has immediately activated civil protection structures to deal with the critical matter of search and rescue at the mine. The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is leading a team of experts, including from Metallon Gold and Freda Rebecca Gold Mine of Bindura,” he said.

Moyo called on all mining operators to practice responsible mining to reduce the incidence of accidents and loss of life.

Metallon Corporation, which owns Redwing Mine, said on Thursday that initial assessments indicate earth tremors as a possible cause of the incident, adding that unstable ground had initially hampered rescue efforts.

Incidents of mine collapse involving artisanal gold miners are common in Zimbabwe, a country with vast gold deposits.