NIMBA COUNTY – At least seven bodies have been recovered from the Kartee gold mines located in Gboanipea where about 40 persons are believed to be buried underground after the mine collapsed.
New developments from the Technical Steering Committee set up to manage the Gbanipea’s Goldmines Disaster show that all persons unaccounted for since the February 10, 2019 collapse of loose soils in Gbonipea, Tappita District, Nimba County are or may be feared dead.
On the morning of February 10, 2019, a disaster occurred in Gbanipea, about 10 kilometers away from Tappita City, Tappita District, Nimba County which resulted into the collapse of loose soils at a gold pit in an alleged illegal goldmine in which about 40 persons were entrapped. Of this number, first responders have recovered 7dead bodies and rescued few survivors. Three of the seven bodies have been recognized by relatives and turned over to these family members for burial while others are yet to be identified as a result of decay. Due to the long stay of entrapped persons in the collapsed soil disaster, disaster management specialists, health workers, security officers and environmentalists have stated that the lack of assess to air, food and water (if the victims may have been alive) may not keep the victims alive considering the length of time they have stayed underground (four days).
Meanwhile, the smell of decayed bodies under thin soils has begun to soar the air, creating atmospheric pollution and other environmental hazards. Soil waters around the affected area are likely to be contaminated (which may lead to the spread of water-borne diseases) and these waters are not useful for cooking and drinking. The government, through the National Disaster Management Agency, has been able to mobilize the available resources to get the Armed Forces of Liberia increased its rescue operations, the Liberia National Police manned the affected area and other ministries and Agencies provide their medical, technical and logistical support.
The National Disaster Management Agency is encouraging all living in and around the affected to refrain from going to the scene of disaster as it may not be safe or healthy. Follow security instructions before moving anywhere in or around the affected scene. Calm has been restored to the district as government moves in to disinfect the air and provide safe drinking water to towns and villages whose water has been contaminated so as to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases.
The public will be updated as events unfold.