Rescue efforts are underway in the Ashanti Region after an illegal gold mine collapsed in Mpasatia, Atwima Mponua District, claiming at least two lives and leaving several miners feared trapped underground.
The disaster occurred on Tuesday morning when miners searching for gold were caught off guard as the pit caved in.
The bodies of two male victims have been recovered so far—one identified as a local resident of Mpasatia, while the other remains unidentified but is believed to be of Ewe descent.
“There are fears that more people are still trapped underground,” an official confirmed, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Emergency responders, including the police, initially arrived at the scene but later withdrew, leaving the rescue efforts in the hands of local residents. This has raised concerns over the lack of immediate government intervention in such disasters.
“The police came in, but they have since returned to base. Now we are making arrangements to speak with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to aid the rescue efforts, but for now, we have taken matters into our hands,” said Salifu Karim, the Assemblyman for Mpasatia Ahembronum, in an interview with Asaase News.
The collapse has once again drawn attention to the dangers of illegal mining, which continues to claim lives despite numerous crackdowns. As rescue efforts continue, the hope remains that survivors can be found before it is too late.
