A gold mine collapse kills at least 11 artisanal miners in Mozambique

Nairobi (EFE).- Police confirmed on Tuesday that at least 11 miners died and several were injured in the collapse of a gold mine in the province of Manica, in central Mozambique.

The incident occurred on Saturday in the Vanduzi district, Six Cars (Seis Carros) mining area, one of the largest artisanal mining centers in the region, which hosts thousands of miners including Mozambicans and people from neighboring countries who often work in precarious conditions without adequate safety measures.

«10 people were buried and died on the spot, in addition to five others who were injured. Three of them were in serious condition and were transferred to Chimoio Provincial Hospital, and one of them died upon arrival,» said police spokesman Mouzinho Manasse.

According to the local press, health authorities confirmed that the injured victims are in stable condition and receiving medical attention.

The Secretary of State for Manica, Lourenço Lindonde, also lamented the events, highlighting that Seis Carros «is an area with a high concentration of young people seeking to earn a living.»

«We must earn a living, but this search for sustenance must be based on rules and behaviors that avoid situations like this one,» said Lindonde.

Collapses in artisanal mines are not unusual in Mozambique. These mines use high-risk, traditional extraction methods, and many of the workers are young people trying to escape poverty.

The country’s authorities recommend that these workers create associations to receive more technical assistance and government support.

In Sep. 2025, the authorities temporarily suspended mining licenses in Manica to reorganize the sector in the face of uncontrolled exploitation that pollutes rivers and has serious health consequences. EFE

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