At least 37 killed in Nigeria mine carbon monoxide poisoning: Reports
At least 37 miners have died from carbon monoxide poisoning at a mining site in central Nigeria, the Reuters news agency reports.
The deadly incident, which occurred on Wednesday morning in Kampani community in Wase area of Plateau state, also left 25 people hospitalized, Reuters said, citing a police source and a security report obtained by the news agency.
Government officials identified the location as a dormant lead mine where accumulated minerals had released deadly fumes.
The Plateau state government said many people “are believed to have died”, without providing an exact figure, adding that others were being treated in nearby hospitals.
Security forces cordoned off the site to prevent further access.
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, said the accident occurred when local villagers, unaware of the toxic nature of the emissions, allegedly entered the tunnel to extract minerals and inhaled the gas.
Illegal mining remains a widespread concern in Nigeria, where extractive operations often lack government oversight and basic security protocols.
Nigeria’s federal government has ordered the immediate suspension of all mining activities in areas near the accident site to allow for a thorough investigation, Reuters reported.
Plateau State is a historic mining region, with its capital, Jos, known as the Tin City, although mining activities have slowed in recent years.
Several similar accidents have already killed miners in Nigeria, including at least 18 people killed last year in the northwest state of Zamfara after a boulder crashed into an illegal mine during heavy rains.
The African continent’s quest for mineral wealth continues to be overshadowed by a recurring cycle of mining disasters, as recent tragedies highlight the continuing dangers of both legal and unregulated operations.
It is estimated that 200 people were killed in the collapse of the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo last month.
The mine, located about 60 km northwest of the city of Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, collapsed after a landslide.
Rubaya produces about 15 percent of the world’s coltan, which is processed into tantalum, a heat-resistant metal in high demand by makers of cell phones, computers, aerospace components and gas turbines.
