Pit collapse search and rescue mission ends

Patriensa (Ash), July 25, GNA - The search and rescue mission launched after the collapse of an illegal gold mining pit at Patriensa in the Asante-Akim Central Municipality has ended with no more bodies or survivors found.

Two miners, identified as Malam Yielpi and Mohammed, were killed when the pit in which they were digging for gold ore caved in.

The accident left another two persons - Alhassan Fuseini and Abdulai Mohammed, injured and they are now receiving treatment at the Stewards Hospital at Yawkwei.

The tragic incident happened in the early hours of Monday and sparked fears that more people might have been trapped under tons of earth and rocks.

Mr. Isaac Kyei Andoh, the Municipal Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), confirmed to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the rescue effort was halted at about 2230 hours, yesterday.

He said they were convinced that there was nobody, either dead or alive, left in the collapsed pit.

He indicated that a combined team of military and police officers, was on standby to prevent any illegal miners from going back to the site.

Patriensa is one of the few mining communities in the municipality where illegal mining is reported to have been going on despite the government's ban.

GNA

By Yussif Ibrahim, GNA