Hope Fails For Trapped Miners

EFFORTS TO reach scores of small-scale miners, who are trapped in a flooded, collapsed pit at Akyepem-Breman in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality, forged ahead on Tuesday, with bodies yet to be recovered.

Rescue officials say getting to the trapped miners has been difficult in the round-the-clock operation, which began on Monday morning with a lot of setbacks, including lack of equipment.

More than 136 small-scale miners, including women and children, were trapped in the abandoned mining pit near the Offin River, when it caved in on Sunday afternoon.

The mine lies some 20 kilometers (12 miles) away from the center of Dunkwa-On-Offin township in the Central Region.

Last year, a similar accident killed many illegal miners in Obuasi and surrounding areas in the Ashanti Region. Safety violations and lack of equipment have been factors in past mining accidents in the country.

Officialdom is not sure how many people managed to escape the latest mining disaster that is said to have been caused by heavy rainfall, leading to an increase in the water level of the Offin River.

Head of the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC), Peter Owusu Ashia Jnr, told DAILY GUIDE he had called for support from AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) to assist in the rescue operation.

It is presumed that it could take some days before rescuers would be able to reach the about 112 miners trapped in the 25-feet underground mine.

According to him, the pit has become slippery with occasional dripping of large amounts of mud and water, thereby risking the safety of workers trying to rescue the victims.

There has been no contact with the miners to confirm if anyone is alive; even though nine of the 'gang' leaders, who were reported missing after the incident, have surfaced and were brought to a meeting of the Security Council.

Rescuers, including Military officers, Fire men, National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and the Police, have been working frantically to free the trapped miners.

Crews are trying several methods in the rescue exercise, including pumping out of water and excavating and directing water from the collapsed pit, with supporting machines from the small-scale miners.

Specialized mining equipment is expected to be brought in to try another rescue attempt, DAILY GUIDE gathered.

“We will be on our feet until we get these men out, one way or the other,” said the Municipal Police Commander, Supt.  Buabeng.

On Monday evening, the owner of the mining pit, Abubakar Saddick, estimated the number of persons trapped under the muddy waters as 11, but indication points to over a 100 miners.

By press time yesterday, some residents of Dunkwa-On-Offin had given up hope and thought the bodies could not be recovered, and if recovered, might be mutilated, which will eventually make identification difficult.

The police have, in the latest development, arrested Abubakar Saddick.

Peter Owusu Eshia has said that police do not suspect any foul play even though they have arrested the owner of the pit.

D.O. Adusa, Municipal Fire Officer for Dunkwa-on-Offin, confirmed that no progress had been made in attempts to reach the victims.

He said excavators are still working to create a ridge to stop water from flowing into the pit. With the prevailing muddy water in the pit, Mr. Adusa said about 20 to 30 pump machines are needed to pump out the water.

He said rescuers are not certain about the number of victims still in the pit as survivors are not forthcoming with information.

“At the moment, we can't give any figure because those who were working inside here are afraid to tell us the number of people missing.”

From Ernest Kofi Adu, Dunkwa-On-Offin