A miner lost his life on Thursday after the mining pit in which he was working at 10 Miles Backdam, Issano, Middle Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) collapsed.
Dead is 31-year-old Owen Smith of Kaburi Village, Region Seven. He was buried under the debris while working in a mining pit alongside family members.
The incident reportedly occurred around 14:30h while Owen was operating as a “jet man” on a four-inch land dredging operation, owned by one of his younger brothers, Dorwin Smith. At the time, Owen was working in the pit with Dorwin, their father, Oliver Smith, and their youngest brother, Jason Smith.
According to reports, the pit measured approximately 40 feet in length, 50 feet in width, and 30 feet in depth. Police stated that while Owen was operating the jet, a large section of the land collapsed, burying him beneath the rubble.
His father and brothers managed to escape unharmed but were unable to reach him due to the extent of the landslide.
It took the family about 15 minutes to extricate Owen from the debris but by that time, he was unresponsive. The injured man was rushed to the 72 Miles Health Centre, where he was pronounced dead.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident, which underscores the persistent dangers faced by miners in the gold-rich but hazardous terrains of the Middle Mazaruni region.
Landslides remain a common risk in the industry, often exacerbated by the unstable conditions of mining pits.
This tragedy follows a recent fatal mining accident in Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni). Police reported that two miners, 26-year-old Sherwayne Joseph and 19-year-old Imran Blake, were killed when a mining pit collapsed at St Elizabeth Backdam, Potaro.
The incident involved a crew of nine miners working on an eight-inch land dredge owned by 38-year-old John Burrowes of Mahdia.
The two victims were among five workers inside the pit when a rumbling sound was heard, and the soil began caving in. While three workers managed to escape, Joseph and Blake were buried beneath the debris.
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