At least five people have been confirmed dead after an illegal gold mining pit collapsed at Kasotie in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region, officials said on Thursday.
According to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the victims were pulled from the debris after hours of rescue efforts. Authorities fear the death toll could rise as more miners may still be trapped underground.
“As of now, we have retrieved five bodies. But the death toll could rise because some miners are feared trapped under the debris,” a NADMO officer told Asaase News.
Emergency workers, assisted by local volunteers, continue to comb through the unstable terrain, though recovery efforts are being slowed by poor visibility and the risk of further cave-ins.
The full number of miners who were working in the pit at the time of the collapse remains unknown.
Illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, remains a persistent challenge in Ghana. Accidents involving poorly constructed and unregulated pits are frequent, often resulting in loss of lives and long-term environmental destruction.
Authorities say investigations are underway to establish the circumstances of the latest incident.
Source – My News Ghana
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