Two people have died and another remains missing after an illegal small-scale mining pit collapsed at Sefwi Datano in the Bodi District of Ghana’s Western North Region.
The incident, reported on October 18, 2026, occurred while the victims were reportedly searching for gold at a mining site where they regularly worked. The sudden collapse trapped the miners underground, triggering an emergency response from residents and local authorities.
The deceased have been identified as Kwaku Charles and Nana Dibi, both believed to have been in their early thirties. Reports indicate that a third person who was working with them at the site remains unaccounted for, raising concerns about the possibility of another casualty.
Following the collapse, residents rushed to the scene in an attempt to rescue the trapped miners. An excavator was subsequently brought in to assist with the recovery operation, as community members worked to retrieve those buried beneath the collapsed earth.
However, the recovery effort reportedly took a tragic turn when the excavator severed the head of one of the victims during the operation. The incident added to the distress surrounding the already devastating accident.
Joseph Debrah, a member of the Datano Unit Committee, confirmed the incident to Adom News. According to him, he received a distress call indicating that people had been trapped in the mining pit.
Debrah said he alerted community leaders, who mobilised local youth to assist with the rescue effort. Police officers from the Bodi District Command were also informed and joined the response as efforts continued to recover the victims and establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
The bodies of the deceased were transported to the Juaboso Government Hospital mortuary for preservation.
Meanwhile, the search for the missing person remains a major concern for the community. The circumstances surrounding the collapse, including what caused the pit to give way, are expected to be examined as further information becomes available.
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the dangers associated with illegal small-scale mining, commonly known in Ghana as galamsey. Mining pits can become particularly dangerous when excavation is carried out without adequate safety measures, proper structural support or effective monitoring.
Collapses at mining sites can leave workers trapped beneath large quantities of soil and debris, making rescue operations difficult and potentially exposing rescuers to additional risks.
The incident has also renewed concerns about the safety of people who enter abandoned or active mining pits in search of gold. Such sites may contain unstable ground and deep excavations that can collapse without warning.
As the community mourns the two deceased miners, attention remains focused on locating the missing person and determining the circumstances that led to the fatal incident.
Source: Thepressradio.com
