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6 killed by Newmont mine tunnel collapse, 2 injured

6 killed by Newmont mine tunnel collapse, 2 injured

A Newmont Ghana mining tunnel at Kenyasi in the Brong Ahafo Region has caved in killing six persons and leaving two more with minor injuries.

The injured have been treated and discharged.

The Saturday accident has caused the mining firm to suspend its operations at Ahafo as well as the Ahafo Mill Expansion project until management is satisfied with safety issues.

A statement issued by Newmont said the deceased, were all contractor employees of the construction services company, Consar Limited.

They were part of an eight member crew working inside the reclaim tunnel of the Ahafo Mill Expansion project when it collapsed.

It said emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to scene of the accident but six people lost their lives in the roof collapse.

Newmont says it is “devastated” by the accident.

All regulatory bodies in the mining sector have been notified of the accident, the company said.

Police in the area have already commenced investigations into the accident, which the company said it is cooperating with.

John Peter Amewu, minister for Lands and Natural Resources is currently en route to the mining site to get first hand information on the accident, 3news.com has gathered.

The statement from the company has meanwhile expressed deep sorrow over the matter.

It said representatives of Newmont Ghana have started notifying the families of the deceased, and would be providing them and co-workers with support and counselling.

“On behalf of the entire Newmont family I would like to express our deepest sorrow and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and co-workers of the victims,” President and Chief Executive Officer, Gary Goldberg, said in the statement.

“Our priorities right now are to support the families of those who lost loved ones in this terrible accident, and to cooperate with authorities to investigate its causes,” he added

By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3news.com|Ghana

Original Story on: 3News
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