Mine Tragedy: Mass burial imminent as number of retrieved bodies reaches 11

The number of miners retrieved in the ongoing mine rescue mission in Chingola has reached 12 with only one retrieved alive.

After burrying two in the last two days, bodies currently lying in the hospital mortuary are nine.

Speaking during a media briefing in Chingola on Sunday, Copperbelt Minister, Elias Matambo, said President Hakainde Hichilema would attend the mass burial tomorrow Monday.

“In the last 24 hours, we have retrieved five bodies making the total number of miners retrieved to 12. We buried two, we are remaining with nine who we intend to bury in a mass burial where President Hichilema is likely to attend,” Matambo told the media.

Read more: Chingola: Number of retrieved miners reaches 7, may hit 9 as two more spotted

Mines and Mineral Development Minister, Paul Kabuswe, said the rescue team would continue working around the clock to retrieve the remaining trapped miners.

Kabuswe said the nature of mining at the copper rich dumpsite was complicated.

About 31 miners were trapped last week, sending the mine town of Chingola into emotional scenes.

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