Hope is slowly fading that the eight workers, including a Zambian, trapped inside a flooded mine in Burkina Faso will be rescued alive, a diplomat has said.
The eight—a Zambian, a Tanzanian and six locals—have been trapped for two weeks at the Perkoa zinc mine.
On Tuesday, Dr Benson Bana, Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Nigeria and the entire Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), said the rescuing mission was still ongoing.
He said rainwater began filling the mine when the workers were 500 metres below the ground.
“The embassy is still following up very closely on the rescuing mission. Burkina Faso Prime Minister visited the site recently and he also expressed concerns about the safety standard of the mine even before the disaster happened,” said Dr Bana.
Sources said the trapped people could be running out of oxygen and water, and that it was also difficult to supply food them.
The accident, which occurred on April 16, 2022, was accelerated by the heavy rainfall, which caused flooding at the mine.
The mine is owned by a Canadian-based firm Trevali Mining Corp. Sources say that officials from the firm have been barred from leaving the West African country as investigation into the incident are conducted.
Bad economic conditions under upnd forcing Zambian to go work in a foreign mine when we have our own mines here. If he dies that will be on hhs hands
Don’t they provide an escape route? May God save our people from this pain.
In search of greener pastures iwe li fontini!
Are the Canadians also in Burkina Faso due toCanadian bad economic conditions?
In search of greener pastures iwe li fontini!
Are the Canadians also in Burkina Faso due toCanadian bad economic conditions?
Mine disasters are usual occurrences world over. It is an accident. Let’s put them in our prayers. Sorry indeed
@Kaisa Sulu is such a bitter man. Not amount of propaganda will bring PF back. The party died when the visionary President Michael Chilufya Sata passed before it was hijacked by kandilez like your kind. Keep going with your rebranding pipe dream for next 100 years, PF is not coming back. The earlier you come to terms with that, the better it will be for you and your tribal choir.