Illegal gold miners work at an open mine in Mazowe, Zimbabwe, April 5, 2018. (Photo: CGTN/Reuters) 

At least 23 illegal gold miners in Zimbabwe are feared dead after water flooded shafts and tunnels at two mines, local media reported on Thursday.

The incident happened around 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday local time when the shafts and tunnels were flooded after a dam wall collapsed due to heavy rains in Battlefields, Mashonaland West Province.

District administrator Fortunate Muzulu told local media that at least 23 people were trapped underground and that the “chances of rescuing any survivors are very slim.”

Rescuers were trying to use pumps to extract water in the search for survivors and bodies at the site.