A mining pit collapse at Akyem Wenchi in the Denkyembour District has left four people dead and about 20 others feared trapped underground, sparking a frantic rescue operation in the area.
The incident, which occurred earlier today, has thrown the community into shock as emergency services race against time to locate and rescue the trapped miners. The cause of the collapse remains unknown at this stage.
Personnel from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ambulance Service have been deployed to the site. They are working in coordination with local residents and volunteers to dig through the debris and reach survivors.
“The situation is very critical. The area is unstable, and we are doing our best to ensure the safety of both trapped individuals and our rescue teams,” an emergency official at the scene told reporters.
The unstable nature of the collapsed pit is said to be significantly hampering rescue efforts, with fears of secondary cave-ins further complicating operations.
While the exact number of miners underground is yet to be confirmed, initial reports suggest that approximately 20 individuals were working in the pit at the time of the collapse. The four confirmed fatalities are said to be young men from nearby communities.
This latest incident adds to a growing list of mining-related tragedies in Ghana, reigniting calls for stricter regulation and monitoring of small-scale and illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as “galamsey.”
Local authorities have appealed for calm and promised to provide updates as the rescue operation continues. Families of the trapped miners have gathered at the site, hoping for a miracle as rescue teams battle time and treacherous conditions to save lives.
Post a Comment