Developing Story: 7 confirmed trapped at Macrolink Mine, as rescue efforts intensify

Seven miners have now been confirmed trapped underground at Macrolink Mine Resources Limited in Mufulira’s Sakanya area.

According to Mine Manager, Joseph Manyepa, five Zambians and two Chinese miners were trapped in the early hours of Monday after the underground mine which is at the development stage suddenly got flooded with water at 235 metres below the surface.

Earlier reports indicated that eight people who were working in the underground mine were all trapped.

But Munyepa explained to Copperbelt Permanent Secretary, Augustine Kasongo, who rushed to the scene said a miner managed to reach about 50 metres to the shaft mouth hence making it out alive.

Kasongo said the rescue team from Mopani Copper Mine (MCM) had been engaged to improve the pumping of water thereby boosting the rescue process.

The accident happened barely a month after more than 30 illegal miners were trapped at Chingola’s Sensele Open Pit mine with only one out of the 12 retrieved miners surviving.

The government has since suspended the rescue operations until the rains subside.

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