Fourteen miners are trapped after a gold mine shaft collapsed in north-western African country of Tanzania, presided upon by John Magufuli.

The workers, who include one Chinese and 13 Tanzanians, were buried in rubble 38m (124ft 6in) underground at 03:00 local time at a site owned by a Chinese company, Ceoafrica reports.

It was learnt that rescue operations are currently under way at the pit near the town of Geita.

Geita’s Regional Commissioner, Ezekiel Kyunga, who is at the scene, told reporters that he believed they would be rescued alive.

Ezekiel said that “from what I have witnessed here, I have a lot of hope that our compatriots who are buried down there are still alive. It is good that they are being supplied with oxygen through pipes."

In March last year five miners died at another site in the region after being trapped while prospecting for gold.