Three Illegal Miners Die in KCM Ob-19 Dumpsite Collapse

Mr. Hamoonga says several miners managed to escape, while others were trapped under the soil.

He says five miners were rescued by their fellow miners and rushed to Nchanga North General Hospital, where 17-year-old Benjamin Kampelo and 18-year-old Kachama Kambongo were pronounced dead on arrival.

The other three victims were treated and discharged.

Mr. Hamoonga further says the body of a third victim, identified as 20-year-old Misheck Mwanza, was later retrieved from beneath the collapsed soil during a search operation and deposited at the Nchanga North General Hospital mortuary.

He has since cautioned members of the public, particularly illegal miners, against entering active mining and dumpsite areas without authority, warning that such areas may have unstable slopes capable of collapsing without warning.

Police have since opened an inquiry file and are expected to revisit the scene today to continue the search and establish whether any other people remain trapped.