Two persons were reported deceased after an illegal gold mine collapsed near Konongo, the capital of the Ashanti Region’s Asante Akyem Central Municipality.
The death toll was believed to be at least three, but the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) confirmed the third person survived the tragedy on Saturday (15 July).
The two were part of a group of illicit miners working in Northern Ashanti Mines Limited’s concession. Many of the company’s mining trenches have been abandoned, exposing illicit miners who enter the area to a variety of dangers.
The victims were on their way to the mining location to look for gold when the pit caved in on them. Rescue teams were sent to the scene to look for them.
Hundreds of neighbors who went to the scene describe how illicit mining has been rampant in the area.
“I came here to join the rescue mission”, said a resident who identified one of the victims as ‘Myopia’. “The other one is a foreigner he is yet to be identified”.
The remains of the victims have been sent to the morgue for preservation and autopsy. Municipal NADMO Coordinator Jones Osei Asamoah confirmed that the rescue mission has ended.
