A pit collapse at Korley Teye in the Eastern Region on Monday morning killed seven illegal miners and injured others, but some of the trapped may have gotten away through a backup exit, according to a NADMO official.
A witness said he helped rescue five survivors from the collapsed pit and took them to the hospital, but NADMO Deputy Director Douglas Adomako said they only found three survivors who are recovering at the hospital.
He said they did not find anyone else in the pit and suggested that some of the trapped miners may have escaped through another route to avoid being caught by the authorities.
Illegal miners often avoid reporting accidents or seeking medical attention for fear of being arrested and prosecuted.
The pit collapse could have claimed more lives if not for the heavy rains that deterred many miners from entering the tunnel that morning, said Unit Committee Secretary Emmanuel Okyere.
He said only the ‘very stubborn’ ones went down the pit and they managed to retrieve seven bodies from the rubble.
He said he was not sure if one of the injured survivors had died as well.
