Fear and anxiety continue to grip residents of Konongo in the Asante-Akyem Central Municipality of the Ashanti Region as nine miners remain trapped underground days after a mining pit collapsed at a site belonging to Northern Ashanti Mines.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when the miners were reportedly working underground before the pit suddenly caved in, blocking their exit route and trapping them beneath heaps of debris.
Rescue operations have since intensified, with emergency responders, security personnel, NADMO officials and fellow miners working around the clock in an attempt to save the victims.
Speaking to journalists at the scene, the Asante-Akyem Central NADMO Director, Lanbon Joseph, disclosed that the trapped miners are believed to still be alive, as rescue teams have been hearing their voices from beneath the collapsed pit.
According to him, the rescue mission has become extremely difficult due to the unstable nature of the ground and the depth of the collapsed section of the mine.
“We can hear their voices underground, and the rescue team is doing everything possible to retrieve them safely,” he told journalists.
The situation has drawn large crowds to the mining site, with family members, residents and sympathizers anxiously waiting for positive news regarding the fate of the trapped miners.
As of the time of filing this report, none of the trapped miners had been rescued, while emergency teams continue efforts to reach them underground.
Authorities are expected to begin investigations into the cause of the collapse after rescue operations are completed.
By Evans Kwame Yeboah
