Nigeria Mine Accident Leaves at Least 37 Dead Due to Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

At least 37 miners have died from carbon monoxide poisoning at a mining site in central Nigeria, according to Reuters. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning in the Kampani community in the Wase area of Plateau State. A total of 25 people were hospitalized as a result.

The location where the accident took place has been identified as a dormant lead mine, where accumulated minerals had released lethal fumes. The Plateau State government reported that many miners were feared dead, but did not provide an exact figure. Others are receiving treatment in nearby hospitals.

Security forces have cordoned off the site to prevent further access. Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake stated that the accident occurred when local villagers entered the tunnel to extract minerals and inhaled the gas.

This incident is part of a broader issue with illegal mining operations in Nigeria, where extractive activities often lack government oversight and basic safety protocols. The federal government has ordered an immediate suspension of all mining activities near the accident site to allow for a comprehensive investigation.

Similar accidents have occurred in Nigeria in recent years, including at least 18 people killed last year in Zamfara State after a boulder crashed onto an illegal mine during heavy rains. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, an estimated 200 people were killed in a collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine last month. The mine collapsed after a landslide, and produces about 15 percent of the world’s coltan.

Source: Al Jazeera