TWO gold panners died on Sunday after being trapped in a disused mine shaft at Bingo Mine in Shurugwi.

Police confirmed the incident yesterday and identified the victims as Stanley Marongwe, 26, and Obert Moyo, 29, both of Matenda village.

Their bodies were taken to Shurugwi District Hospital for a post mortem.

According to eyewitnesses, a boulder fell from the roof of the tunnel and killed Moyo and Marongwe instantly.

Police were immediately summoned but only arrived six hours later, according to one of the survivors, Amos Muchengeto.

Temba Mujumi, another of the survivors, said more than 15 people were inside the mine shaft when it collapsed.

"We might well have died inside but we were quickly rescued by our colleagues," Mujumi said from his bed at Shurugwi District Hospital.

He said the incident occurred around 12 noon but police only arrived at the scene about 6pm, to retrieve the bodies of the deceased.

Mujumi sustained multiple bruises all over his body.

Thousands of villagers in most parts of the Midlands province have resorted to illegal gold panning to earn a living.

According to police, about 100 gold panners die each year due to suffocation and related accidents.