Two people have died following the collapse of a galamsey pit at Sefwi Datano in the Bodi District of Ghana’s Western North Region, while a third person who was reportedly working with them remains missing.
The deceased, identified as Kwaku Charles and Nana Dibi, are believed to have been in their early thirties. The incident occurred while the three individuals were reportedly mining for gold at a site where they regularly carried out their activities.
According to reports, the pit suddenly collapsed, trapping the miners underground. Residents and other rescuers rushed to the scene after learning of the incident, making efforts to retrieve the victims from beneath the collapsed earth.
An excavator was subsequently brought in to assist with the rescue operation. However, the machine reportedly severed the head of one of the victims during the recovery process before the bodies were eventually retrieved.
Speaking to 3News, Joseph Debrah, the Unit Committee Member for Datano, said he received a distress call indicating that two people had been trapped in a galamsey pit.
He explained that he immediately informed community leaders, who mobilised some of the youth to assist with the rescue efforts. The police in Bodi were also notified and joined the operation to recover the trapped miners.
The bodies were later transported to the mortuary at Juaboso Government Hospital for preservation and further investigation.
The incident has left residents of Sefwi Datano mourning as uncertainty continues over the whereabouts of the third person who was reportedly at the mining site when the pit collapsed.
The tragedy has renewed attention on the dangers associated with gold-mining activities, particularly in areas where excavations may become unstable and expose miners to potentially fatal accidents. Pit collapses can leave workers trapped beneath tonnes of soil, making rescue operations difficult and increasing the risk of further injuries during recovery efforts.
Authorities are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse and determine the whereabouts of the missing individual. Further details regarding the incident and any official findings were not available in the information provided.
