Seven miners have been reported dead after a mining pit collapsed on them at Kassa community in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State on Wednesday evening.
Chronicle NG gathered from the community on Thursday that the incident occurred at about 7pm when the pit suddenly collapsed on the miners while they were carrying out mining activities at the site.
A resident of the community, Albert Danlami, said, “The victims were trapped underground following the collapse, prompting residents and other miners to commence efforts to recover them.”
Danlami also stated that the incident caused panic in the community as residents “rushed to the mining site following the collapse.”
He further reported that the miners had been working at the location when the earth suddenly collapsed in on them, adding that “some persons were injured following the collapse.”
Rwang Tengwong, Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Molders Association (BYM), also confirmed the disaster, telling our correspondent that “seven miners lost their lives in the incident,” adding that the victims were at the mining site when the pit collapsed.
According to Tengwong, attempts were made to rescue the miners following the incident, but they were discovered dead.
The tragedy has left the Kassa community in mourning. Locals who spoke with our correspondent characterized the situation as catastrophic and demanded immediate government engagement in mining safety.
“We are heartbroken. These are young men who went to work to feed their families,” one community member, Timothy Bako, said.
“The pit was too deep, and there were no safety measures. Government must come and regulate these mining sites before more lives are lost,” he added.
Community leaders have urged the Plateau State Government and related agencies to provide urgent assistance to the relatives of the deceased and to implement stronger safety measures at mining operations throughout the local government area.
