Manyara RPC Akili Mpwapwa PHOTO|FILE
In Summary
- The deaths bring to over a dozen people killed in accidents at mining sites in the region over the last ten months; a survey by this paper has established.
Mererani. Two small scale
miners died from suffocation and three others were injured inside a
tanzanite mining pit at Mererani in Manyara Region early yesterday,
according to eye witnesses.
The deaths bring to over a dozen people killed in accidents at mining sites in the region over the last ten months; a survey by this paper has established.
Manyara regional police commander, Mr Akili Mpwapwa, named the deceased as Geoffrey William (19), a resident of Daraja Mbili in Arusha and Emmanuel Solomon, also a resident of the city. They were hundreds of small scale gemstone dealers commonly known as ‘Wana Apolo’ at the accident site.
According to him, the duo suffocated to death at 1am in a pit located at Block D, which is being operated by small tanzanite dealers. The owner of the pit where the accident occurred was identified as Vincent Ngwatu.
“They died from suffocation after dynamite was used to blast rocks inside the pit,” the RPC told The Citizen yesterday, adding that it is suspected the rocks had poisonous gas.
Three other people were affected by toxic gas emissions and were taken to the hospital where their conditions were reported to be improving. The bodies of the deceased were preserved at Mt Meru Regional Hospital in Arusha for post-mortem examinations. Police have launched investigations into the accident, according to Mr Mpwapwa.
Two months ago, two people were killed in a similar way inside a pit in Block D and brought to seven the number of people who had perished in tragedies at the famous tanzanite mines between April and September.
In July alone, five people died in one incident when the pit they were working inside caved in. The series of fatal accidents have raised concerns on the safety of miners at the only site in the world where the rare tanzanite gemstone is found and mined.
More than a dozen miners also perished last year in isolated accidents at the mines.
The deaths bring to over a dozen people killed in accidents at mining sites in the region over the last ten months; a survey by this paper has established.
Manyara regional police commander, Mr Akili Mpwapwa, named the deceased as Geoffrey William (19), a resident of Daraja Mbili in Arusha and Emmanuel Solomon, also a resident of the city. They were hundreds of small scale gemstone dealers commonly known as ‘Wana Apolo’ at the accident site.
According to him, the duo suffocated to death at 1am in a pit located at Block D, which is being operated by small tanzanite dealers. The owner of the pit where the accident occurred was identified as Vincent Ngwatu.
“They died from suffocation after dynamite was used to blast rocks inside the pit,” the RPC told The Citizen yesterday, adding that it is suspected the rocks had poisonous gas.
Three other people were affected by toxic gas emissions and were taken to the hospital where their conditions were reported to be improving. The bodies of the deceased were preserved at Mt Meru Regional Hospital in Arusha for post-mortem examinations. Police have launched investigations into the accident, according to Mr Mpwapwa.
Two months ago, two people were killed in a similar way inside a pit in Block D and brought to seven the number of people who had perished in tragedies at the famous tanzanite mines between April and September.
In July alone, five people died in one incident when the pit they were working inside caved in. The series of fatal accidents have raised concerns on the safety of miners at the only site in the world where the rare tanzanite gemstone is found and mined.
More than a dozen miners also perished last year in isolated accidents at the mines.
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