A miner at Mopani Copper mines in Kitwe has died after he was crushed by a Copper ore loaded train wagon carrier.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner Peacewell Mweemba who disclosed the development to ZANIS in Kitwe today identified the deceased as John Mwela aged 24.
Mr. Mweemba said the accident occurred yesterday around 11:20 pm at South Ore Body (SOB) in Wusakile Township at ground level 3360.
Mr Mweemba explained that a train wagon carrier the deceased was loading, with crushed copper ore disengaged and fell on him and squeezed him against the wall.
He said the body has since been retrieved by mine authorities and rushed to Kitwe Teaching Hospital by police for certification of death and deposition into the mortuary.
And National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) President, Saul Simujika has called on mining companies to tighten their safety measures to prevent mine accidents from escalating.
Mr Simujika also called on the Mine safety department to move in and conduct Mine safety audits in various mines and refresh safety procedures to prevent the escalating mine accidents.
Mr Simujika said it was unfortunate that the mining sector has started the year with a number of fatal accidents.
He noted that recently two miners died at Collum Coal Mine in Maamba and another one died at Kalumbila mine in North-Western Province.
He also called on mining companies to enhance sensitization on safety among their workers.