Two Die after Sand Pit Collapses in Chibombo

Two people have died while another has been injured after they were buried by collapsed sand at a building sand excavation site in Kamaila Area, Chibombo District.

The incident happened on September 18, 2026, between 03:00 and 06:00 hours when the three were digging and extracting sand.

Central Province Police Commissioner Lemekani Chirwa has confirmed the incident, saying the victims were part of a group that had gone to the site to excavate sand for a person from 22 Miles.

Mr Chirwa says a portion of the sand wall suddenly collapsed, burying three people inside the excavation pit.

Fellow workers, relatives and members of the community managed to retrieve the victims and rushed them to Chisamba Rural Health Centre.

Daniel Phiri, aged 21, and Mukuwe Mbao, aged 26, were pronounced dead, while Simbao Mulenga was admitted for treatment.

The bodies have been deposited at Chisamba Rural Health Centre mortuary pending post-mortem examinations, while police have opened an inquiry file and investigations are continuing.