Not less than 17 primary school children were injured in Zimbabwe on Thursday after their classroom collapsed into a sinkhole, local authorities said, blaming the incident on uncontrolled underground mining.

Kwekwe a primary school at a city about 200 kilometres southwest of the capital, Harare, is located near two gold mines.
School management had complained about illegal mining activities underneath its grounds in the past.

According to a local lawmaker, one girl was seriously injured and arrangements made for her to be rushed to hospital.

Photos circulating on social media showed a hole opened under the classroom’s floor, swallowing up desks, chairs and school bags.
In total 17 pupils aged between 10 and 11 were injured.

Larry Mavima, Provincial affairs minister said the authorities had ordered the school closed and were trying to find alternative placements for its pupils.

“As government we are very shocked by this incident and disappointed that the miners didn’t take the requisite measures to
secure the area in order to prevent such an accident. An investigation would be launched on why this happened and who may be responsible ” he said.

The landlocked southern African country boasts vast gold reserves.
The precious metal accounted for about a third of all exports in May last year, according to official data.

The sector has attracted hundreds of thousands of small-scale, informal miners, who often operate illegally.

A 2020 report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) estimated that 1.5 million people had turned to artisanal mining because of widespread unemployment, poverty, and economic hardship.

Accidents are relatively common in decommissioned mines, particularly when the ground is loosened by rain.