The initial survivor of the recent landslide that engulfed numerous miners at a copper mine in Zambia has been successfully rescued.

The 49-year-old man was extricated from the mine on Tuesday night and is currently receiving medical treatment, as reported by Zambia's Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit on Wednesday.

Alongside the rescue, the response team also recovered one body, bringing the confirmed death toll to eight.

This successful rescue occurred shortly after Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema expressed optimism about the possibility of more survivors.

The tragic incident unfolded at Seseli Mine in Chingola, situated approximately 400 km (250 miles) northwest of the capital Lusaka. The miners became trapped in three locations following heavy rains in the area.

"We should not yet mourn these [trapped] people because God is a God of wonders. We will find some of our people alive down here," Mr Hichilema told a gathering of thousands of people, including families of the trapped miners in Chingola on Tuesday.

The exact count of trapped miners remains elusive, with Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe stating on Monday that 25 families have thus far reported missing relatives who were working during the accident.

Ongoing rescue efforts persist in an attempt to locate and extricate any remaining miners. President Hichilema, dismissing reports of illegal mining activities at the site, assured that his government would enforce safe mining practices to avert future tragic incidents.

Zambia ranks among the leading copper producers globally, and informal mining practices are prevalent in the country.