The search for missing individuals feared trapped in a collapsed illegal mining pit in Mpasatia, Ashanti Region, has entered its second day, with community members and law enforcement working tirelessly to recover any survivors or bodies.
On Tuesday, April 1, two bodies were recovered from the debris, but the fate of other possible victims remains unknown. Efforts to locate additional victims have ramped up, with local residents joining the search after an urgent appeal from traditional authorities.
Kwaku Duah, who is leading the search efforts, explained that their team had been digging since 5 a.m. with basic tools, hoping to uncover more victims. “We are doing everything we can with the resources available to us. We won’t stop until we are certain that there are no more people trapped,” he said.
The site, once a part of a community mining scheme, was shut down following the change in government leadership. However, illegal mining activity has persisted in the area, with miners returning to the site in search of gold despite the government’s efforts to clamp down on such operations.
The tragic incident has brought to light the continued risks posed by illegal mining activities in the region, raising concerns about the lack of enforcement and the persistence of miners operating outside the law.
