Tragedy struck at an illegal mining site in Mpasatia, Atwima Nwabiagya South the Ashanti Region on April 1, 2025, when a gold pit collapsed, claiming the lives of five miners and trapping several others underground. The disaster has left the community in shock, with frantic rescue efforts underway to save those still buried beneath the rubble.
According to local eyewitnesses, the miners were deep inside the pit when the walls unexpectedly caved in, burying them under heaps of sand and debris. The instability of the pit, coupled with the sheer volume of earth that has filled it, has made rescue efforts both dangerous and challenging.
Eyewitness Nana Nkansah, speaking in a phone interview from Kumasi, described the scene as chaotic. “People rushed to the site, desperately trying to dig out those trapped. The cries for help from beneath the sand were heartbreaking,” he recounted. Despite the community’s swift response, the magnitude of the collapse made it difficult for manual efforts to yield immediate results.
Rescue teams, supported by local security agencies and concerned residents, have so far managed to retrieve five bodies. Two of the victims were confirmed dead upon arrival at Afari Hospital, while three others were declared dead at the scene. The remains of the deceased have been transported to the morgue, where they await identification by their families.
Meanwhile, the fate of those still trapped remains uncertain. Efforts to reach them continue, though progress is slow due to the precarious nature of the collapsed pit. The risk of further cave-ins has forced rescuers to proceed with extreme caution.
This latest disaster serves as a grim reminder of the dangers associated with illegal mining, commonly referred to as “galamsey.” Despite repeated government crackdowns and public awareness campaigns, the lure of quick riches continues to draw many into these perilous, unregulated mining operations.
Local leaders and residents are calling for urgent intervention to prevent future occurrences. “We cannot keep losing lives like this. Authorities must take stricter action to regulate mining activities and provide alternative livelihoods for those involved in galamsey,” one community member lamented.
As the rescue operation continues, the tragic incident underscores the urgent need for sustainable solutions to the ongoing illegal mining crisis. Authorities have yet to release an official statement, but pressure is mounting for stronger enforcement measures to protect lives and ensure that such disasters do not recur.
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Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson #ahotoronline.com
