Asaman Tamfoe, Eastern Region — Seven illegal miners are feared dead after a pit collapsed on them overnight at Asaman Tamfoe, near Anyinam in the Atiwa East District.
The victims entered an abandoned, deep pit during the night when the walls suddenly caved in, trapping them under tonnes of soil and mud.
The collapse occurred around 2:00 am on Thursday. The miners were working by torchlight—a tactic commonly used in the area to evade the anti-galamsey taskforce.
The local Assembly Member confirmed the incident, stating that community volunteers raised the alarm at dawn when the group failed to return from the site.
Rescue operations are underway. Residents, family members, police officers, and officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) are using shovels and excavators to reach those trapped. No bodies have been retrieved yet due to the depth and unstable condition of the pit.
Asaman Tamfoe, situated along the Birim River, remains a prominent illegal mining hub. The area has seen multiple fatal cave-ins despite repeated warnings from the Minerals Commission and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
Police personnel from Anyinam have been stationed at the scene to manage the growing crowd. The Eastern South Police Command in Kyebi is expected to issue a formal statement following an initial assessment.
Once retrieved, the bodies will be transported to the Anyinam or Kibi Government Hospital for identification and autopsy.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana