20 Feared Dead as Illegal Mining Pit Collapses

At least 20 people, including women and children, are feared dead or trapped following the collapse of an illegal mining pit at Mayo-Kam community in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon while artisanal miners were carrying out excavation activities at the site, throwing the rural community into panic and mourning.

A resident of Bali, Saidu Baba Bali, who confirmed the incident to Vanguard, said the collapsed pit buried several artisanal miners, most of whom were residents of Mayo-Kam.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, Victor Mshelizah, said rescue teams had so far recovered five bodies from the collapsed pit.

He said the exact number of casualties remained uncertain as search and rescue operations were still ongoing.

According to Mshelizah, “The actual number of casualties has not yet been fully established, but our teams have recovered five bodies from the site so far.

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“Search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate and evacuate any remaining persons who may still be trapped underneath the debris.”

As of press time, the Taraba State Government had not issued an official statement on the incident, while emergency responders and community volunteers continued efforts to recover those trapped beneath the debris.