At least eight miners are feared dead after an illegal mining pit collapsed at Domi Keniago in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region.
The incident occurred at about 9:40 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, 2026, while the miners were reportedly undertaking mining activities inside the pit.
An eyewitness, 42-year-old John Paintsil, who was among those working underground and managed to escape, said 12 male miners were inside the pit when it collapsed.
According to him, four miners managed to escape without injuries, while the remaining eight were trapped underground.
At about 10:48 p.m., rescue personnel reportedly recovered the lifeless body of one of the trapped miners, identified by the nickname “Chinchilla.”
NADMO leads rescue operation
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) said its district director received a distress call about the mining accident and immediately mobilised personnel to the scene.
A team from the Amansie South District NADMO Office was subsequently deployed to assess the situation and support rescue and recovery efforts.
According to NADMO’s preliminary report, the rescue operation involved the mobilisation and coordination of four excavators to assist in accessing the collapsed pit and recovering the trapped miners.
The miners reportedly trapped underground have been identified as Kwaku Dada, Akwasi Awudu, Kwaku Badu, Chinchilla, Kwame, Awelo, Kofi Asaa and Kojo Buabeng.
Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing as authorities work to establish the full extent of the incident.
Meanwhile, authorities have commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collapse and the deaths of the miners.
The incident has once again raised concerns about the dangers associated with illegal mining operations and the safety risks faced by persons working in unregulated mining pits.
