Nine miners die after floodwater fills Bauchi mining pit

Nine miners have died after floodwater submerged a mining pit in Nahuta Village, Gwana District, Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, police said.

Bauchi police spokesperson SP Nafiu Habib said the miners were contract workers at Pit Three when water flooded the pit after heavy rainfall. Daily Trust reported that the incident was confirmed in a telephone interview on Wednesday.

Habib said Kasim Abdulsalam, the purchase manager of Zurfi Mining Company in Nahuta, reported the incident to police. One victim was electrocuted and taken to General Hospital, Kashere, in Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State, where he was confirmed dead.

The police spokesperson said the DPO in Alkaleri led detectives to the scene, where three water pump generators were used to evacuate water from the pit. The remaining eight miners were removed at about 6:20 a.m. on September 28 and were also confirmed dead at the hospital.

Habib said the bodies were released to relatives after medical examination and that investigation into the incident was continuing.

Sources: Daily Trust, Channels TV