KIGALI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Four Rwandan miners who were trapped underground at a cassiterite mine in eastern Rwanda for three days were rescued on Tuesday, Rwandan police said.
"Rwanda National Police (RNP) in partnership with residents of the Mwurire sector have rescued four people who were trapped underground since Saturday after a concession collapsed on them," the police said in a tweeter message on Tuesday.
Five people were trapped underground at the mine in the Rwamagana district when a weak cliff caved in but one escaped, the police said.
The rescued were taken to hospital to undergo medical tests, said Rwamagana district mayor Rajab Mbonyumuvunyi at a news briefing in the district on Tuesday.
The mining cliff had been weakened by heavy rains, according to the mayor,
In March, two Rwandan miners were killed when a cliff collapsed in Nyamasheke district in western Rwanda.
Some 75 precent of mining operations in Rwanda is artisanal, according to the Rwanda Mining Association.
