Tragedy struck the community of Wassa Dunkwa in the Amenfi West Municipality of Ghana’s Western Region, as six individuals — four men and two women — lost their lives following the collapse of an illegal mining (galamsey) pit.

Eyewitnesses reported that the victims were trapped underground when the pit’s unstable walls gave way, burying them alive. Fellow miners launched a desperate rescue attempt and managed to retrieve the bodies, but all six were confirmed dead.

A video of the heartbreaking aftermath has gone viral on social media. The footage shows the lifeless bodies, covered in leaves, being carried away for transport to their grieving families. The air was filled with sorrow as residents gathered, visibly devastated by the loss.

Illegal mining continues to pose a serious threat to lives and the environment across Ghana. Despite intensified government efforts to curb galamsey, the activity remains widespread, especially in communities plagued by unemployment and poverty. Pit collapses — often due to unsafe and unregulated operations — have become tragically common.



Calls are once again growing louder for more sustainable solutions, job creation, and stricter enforcement to end the recurring loss of life tied to illegal mining activities.