Five Illegal Miners Trapped Underground After Gold Shaft Collapse in Central

Five illegal miners are trapped after a gold mine collapsed in Central Province. Rescue operations are ongoing, but no victims have yet been found. Authorities say efforts continue under a government-led coordination team, while illegal mining remains a persistent safety issue in Zambia.

Five illegal miners remain trapped after a gold mine collapsed in Central Province, following an accident that occurred while they were actively digging at an informal mining site known as the Qon site. The collapse happened unexpectedly, burying the miners underground and prompting urgent concern from authorities and local communities.
According to a senior government official, rescue efforts began on Wednesday, one day after the incident was reported. Emergency teams were deployed to the area and immediately started excavation work in an attempt to reach the trapped miners. However, initial progress has been difficult. Officials confirmed that when the first rescue tunnel was opened, no individuals were found, raising fears about the depth of the collapse and the possible location of the miners.
Central Province Permanent Secretary Milner Mwanakampwe provided updates on the situation while speaking to journalists in Kabwe, the provincial capital. He stated that search operations are continuing without interruption and that all available resources are being used to locate the missing miners. He added that authorities remain hopeful but cautious, as conditions inside the collapsed mine are unstable and dangerous for rescue workers.
In response to the incident, the government has formed a high-level committee of permanent secretaries to oversee and coordinate the rescue mission. The committee includes officials from the ministries of the green economy, home affairs, and health, as well as the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit. The aim is to ensure better coordination between agencies, improve safety during the rescue operation, and accelerate efforts to locate and save the trapped miners.
Illegal mining continues to be a serious issue in Zambia, especially in mineral-rich regions where gold deposits attract informal miners. Despite government crackdowns and warnings about the dangers, many people still engage in illegal mining due to economic hardship and the high value of precious minerals. These operations are often carried out without proper safety equipment or engineering standards, making collapses a frequent and deadly risk.
The current incident adds to a troubling pattern of mining-related accidents in the country. In October 2025, a similar collapse resulted in the deaths of ten miners, while five others survived with injuries after being pulled from the rubble. That tragedy had already prompted renewed calls for stricter enforcement and improved safety education, but incidents like the current one show that the problem remains unresolved.
Authorities have pledged to continue the rescue operation until all possibilities are exhausted. However, officials have also warned that time is critical, as survival chances decrease the longer the miners remain trapped underground. The situation remains under close monitoring as families wait anxiously for updates on the fate of their loved ones.