With 427 fatalities, it remains the deadliest mine accident to date in the country's history.

Two new explosions on 7 June poured clouds of poisonous gas into the 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) of tunnels, making further rescue attempts impossible.

On 9 June, the general manager of the Wankie colliery, Gordon Livingstone-Blevins, decided to leave the 424 bodies where they were.

[1] A mass memorial service took place on 11 June at a nearby football stadium, where a crowd of about 5,000 people paid tribute.

"This has cast a gloom over the whole country," Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith said during the service.