Seven illegal miners have been confirmed dead following the collapse of a mining pit at Asaman Tamfoe in the Atiwa East District of the Eastern Region, in the latest fatal incident to hit the country’s illegal mining sector.
Four others are still feared trapped underground as rescue teams continue efforts to locate and recover them after the pit collapsed at about 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
The miners were reportedly working inside the pit in search of gold when the structure suddenly caved in, trapping workers beneath the debris.
Two miners raise alarm
According to reports, two miners who were outside the pit at the time of the collapse rushed back to the community to raise the alarm and seek assistance.
Residents quickly mobilised a search and rescue operation and alerted the Police and other emergency agencies.
The rescue effort continued throughout the night, with teams digging through the collapsed sections of the pit in an attempt to reach those believed to be trapped underground.
Rescuers subsequently recovered the remains of seven of the 11 miners believed to have been trapped in the collapse.
Five of the deceased have reportedly been identified as residents of Moseaso, while the other two are said to be members of the Asaman Tamfoe community.
Rescue teams search for four
Personnel from the Anyinam District Police Command, the Ghana National Ambulance Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and community volunteers searched for the victims.
A police-led evacuation operation has also been completed, with the seven individuals recovered from the site reportedly found unresponsive.
The authorities have yet to provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the collapse or confirm the identities of all the victims.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers associated with unregulated mining operations, where miners often work in unstable pits and without the safety measures required for conventional mining operations.
As the rescue operation continues, families and residents in the affected communities are anxiously awaiting news of the four miners still believed to be underground.
