Dozens of gold miners are trapped underground after a mine collapsed in central Nigeria, the BBC reports. The incident occurred yesterday after heavy rains in Niger state, but information has been slow to emerge due to a general strike in the country, which was called off today, quoted by News.bg.
The spokesman for Niger's state emergency service, Husseini Ibrahim, said there was one confirmed death and over 30 people were believed to be trapped. According to Ibrahim, it was impossible to give an exact number of those affected, as even people on the ground did not know for sure.
Six were rushed to hospital. Rescue efforts are ongoing.
Hussaini Ibrahim also said four excavators had been brought to the site to clear the entrance to the tunnel.
Furthermore, Nigeria's Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, announced that officials from the Inspectorate of Mines had been dispatched to the Galadima Kogo mine site.
"Rest assured, we will investigate the cause of the disaster to prevent a recurrence and ensure the safety of all Nigerians," he said in a statement.
Mining accidents are not uncommon in Nigeria, although many go undetected. In January, a deadly explosion rocked the city of Ibadan, killing two people and injuring 77 others. The Oyo state government said the cause of the accident was explosives stored by illegal miners at the site.