7 Feared Dead After Galamsey Pit Collapses At Asaman Tamfoe Near Anyinam

Asaman Tamfoe, E/R -Seven illegal miners are feared dead after a galamsey pit caved in on them overnight at Asaman Tamfoe, near Anyinam in the Atiwa East District of the Eastern Region.

Reports indicate the seven had entered an abandoned deep pit to work overnight when the walls suddenly collapsed, trapping them underground under tonnes of loose soil and mud.

The incident reportedly happened around 2am on Thursday. The miners were said to be working under torchlights, a common practice in the area to avoid detection by the anti-galamsey taskforce.

Assembly Member for the area, who confirmed the incident, said community volunteers raised the alarm after the victims failed to return from the site at dawn.

Rescue efforts are currently underway at the site, with residents, family members and a team of police and NADMO officials using shovels and excavators to retrieve the bodies trapped under the rubble. As of this morning, none of the bodies had been recovered due to the depth and unstable nature of the pit.

Asaman Tamfoe is a well-known illegal mining hotspot along the Birim River. The area has recorded similar cave-ins in the past, with several deaths, despite repeated warnings from the Minerals Commission and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).

Police at Anyinam have deployed men to the scene to maintain order as a crowd gathers. The Eastern South Police Command at Kyebi is expected to issue a statement after assessment.

The bodies, when retrieved, will be conveyed to the Anyinam or Kibi Government Hospital for identification and autopsy.