At least eight people are feared dead after an illegal mining pit collapsed on a group of miners at Domi Keniago in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region.
The incident occurred on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at about 9:40 p.m., trapping eight miners underground.
According to eyewitness accounts, 12 men were working inside the mining pit when it suddenly caved in.
One of the miners, 42-year-old John Paintsil, managed to escape from the collapsed pit. He said four of the 12 miners were able to get out safely, while the remaining eight were trapped underground.
Rescue efforts began shortly after authorities were alerted to the incident.
At about 10:48 p.m., rescue personnel recovered the body of one of the trapped miners, identified by the nickname “Chinchilla”.
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) said its District Director received a distress call about the collapse and immediately dispatched a team from the Amansie South District office to the site.
The team assessed the situation and began coordinating efforts to rescue the miners and recover those who remained trapped.
As part of the ongoing operation, NADMO has mobilised four excavators to assist with the rescue and recovery exercise.
The miners identified as being trapped underground are Kwaku Dada, Akwasi Awudu, Kwaku Badu, Chinchilla, Kwame, Awelo, Kofi Asaa and Kojo Buabeng.
Authorities are continuing rescue and recovery operations while investigations are underway to determine the circumstances that led to the collapse.
The incident has once again raised concerns about the dangers associated with illegal mining activities, particularly the risks posed by unstable and poorly secured mining pits.
