Nine people have been confirmed dead following an illegal mining pit collapse at Atta Ne Atta, a community in the Asutifi South District of the Ahafo Region, according to JoyNews’ Erastus Asare Donkor.
The death toll was revised downward from ten after hospital authorities determined that one of the bodies initially counted among the victims had no connection to the cave-in. The disaster occurred the previous night.
Four miners who sustained injuries in the collapse are currently receiving treatment at St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital in Hwidiem. Medical personnel indicated as of Monday morning that the patients are showing positive signs of recovery.
The number of miners present at the site during the collapse has not been confirmed. Rescue teams and authorities continue to assess the scene as they work to determine the full extent of the disaster and establish its cause.
Initial reports had wrongly placed the incident at Manso Tontokrom in the Ashanti Region before authorities corrected the location.
Atta Ne Atta falls within the constituency of Collins Dauda and has previously drawn attention over a confrontation involving the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
The incident has reignited concerns about safety risks linked to illegal mining — locally known as galamsey — and raised fresh questions about enforcement and regulatory oversight in mining communities across the country.