Two miners lost their lives after they were reportedly covered by mud and stones when a mud pit in which they were working caved in at the Mowasi Backdam, Konawaruk, Potaro, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
Dead are Deon Sproston, called “Jersey Joe”, 36, of Lot 133 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and a miner only known as “Shawn”. The incident occurred at about 20:00h on Monday evening.
Guyana Times International understands the two men and other persons were working the walls of the pit with metal detectors searching for gold while it was raining heavily.
While working, a large portion of the pit wall suddenly broke off and fell on both men, covering them alive.
Reports are the other workers, who managed to escape unhurt, quickly sounded an alarm and with the aid of others, began to dig for the men.
However, the men were eventually located and pulled some two hours later. They were rushed to the Mahdia District Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
These latest deaths have brought the death rate to seven for this year.
In January, 23-year-old Handel Payne, also called “Daggie” of Kaneville Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) died after the mining pit in which he was working at 35 Miles, Konawaruk Backdam collapsed.
Information reaching Guyana Times International revealed that Payne and others were working in the mining pit when a piece of the mud wall collapsed behind them, striking Payne in the mid-section. He reportedly fell unconscious by which time the water began to rise rapidly. He was submerged and subsequently drowned. He was later pulled out and rushed to the Mahdia Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
In April, a miner named Kevin Adams, 25, of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) died at Chinese Creek Backdam, Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) after a pit caved in and buried him alive.
One month later, in May, Ken Ranny, 20, a resident of Kamarang, Upper Mazaruni River, died after he was covered by mud after the wall of a mining pit in which he was working collapsed at Pepper Camp Backdam, Upper Mazaruni River.
Again, one month later, in June, miner Elmo Adams died after he too was covered alive after the walls of a pit in which he was working caved at Imbaimadai, Upper Mazaruni.
Back in 2015, 10 persons died in a mining pit in the Konawaruk area after it collapsed. The incident saw 17 miners being buried under a pile of dirt and rubble but seven managed to escape alive with varying injuries.
The others remained trapped under the dirt where they perished. The 10 miners were Leyland Jones, Jason Trotman, Vick Bernard, Frank Bernard, Desmond Martins, Raymond August, Brian Bank, Trevon Phillips, Nanmore Kurt and another man identified only as “Michael”.
The deaths were blamed on heavy rains in the area, improper mining design and poor safety practices at the mining camp.
