Reports have confirmed that two young people have lost their lives, and another is fighting for survival after a galamsey pit collapsed in Dansame on Thursday afternoon.
The victims, a 22-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man, died when the earth gave way at an illegal mining site in the Central Region.
Eight miners were working inside the freshly dug hole when the walls suddenly buckled. Massive heaps of loose soil and debris buried three workers instantly, sparking a desperate rescue mission.
Residents and fellow miners rushed to the scene, digging frantically with their bare hands and basic tools. However, the unstable ground and deep rubble made the rescue incredibly difficult.
By the time the team pulled the victims from the earth, two had already stopped breathing. The third miner survived the crush but sustained horrific injuries.
Paramedics rushed him to a nearby clinic, where doctors now describe his condition as “extremely critical”.
Authorities have moved the bodies of the deceased to the New Edubiase Government Hospital morgue.
Meanwhile, the police have started an official investigation into the cause of the disaster.
Officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) also plan to inspect the site to identify safety failures.
Edward Fireson, the NADMO District Director for Assin North, confirmed the heartbreaking news.
He stated that his office would now intensify the local fight against illegal mining to prevent more families from losing their loved ones to such avoidable tragedies.
