Five people have died after being buried by soil at a mining pit in Kitaita, Gairo District, Morogoro Region, in an accident that has again highlighted the dangers of unsafe mining practices.
The victims were among nine people who allegedly entered the mining pit illegally at night to engage in mineral extraction, Gairo District Commissioner Japhar Kubecha said.
According to Mr Kubecha, the group, locally known as wadudu, was inside the pit when a mass of soil collapsed, trapping them underground.
Five bodies have since been recovered, while one of the victims has been identified as a resident of Kilindi District.
“Preliminary information indicates that some of the deceased came from outside Gairo District,” Mr Kubecha said.
Authorities are continuing with efforts to identify the remaining victims and establish the full circumstances surrounding the accident.
The incident underscores the risks associated with entering unstable mining pits, particularly at night and without proper safety precautions.
Mining accidents involving collapsing pits have remained a concern in areas where informal or unauthorised extraction takes place, exposing miners to potentially fatal conditions.