Floods at Tanzanian mine leave at least 75 people feared dead
Floods in northern Tanzania led to the disaster
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Saturday, 29, Mar 2008 07:34
Reports claim that at least 75 people are feared dead in northern Tanzania after floods swept through a mine near the town of Arusha.
State-run newspaper, the Daily News, quoted Manyara regional commissioner Henry Shekifu as claiming five bodies had so far been recovered from the mine.
He also claimed that 75 men went missing on Friday as heavy rains flooded into the mines in Mererani.
Equipment was being brought to the scene to pump water from the mine while power remains off after electricity cables were brought down in the flood.
"Eyewitnesses said flood waters entered eight pits and then spread to other pits, drowning working miners," the Daily News website said.
In the same area ten years ago 100 miners died in similar floods. Northern Tanzania is the only place where the blue gemstone tanzanite is found.
The tanzanite mines are licensed by the government, with most miners usually working for themselves.