By Attah Ede
A carbon monoxide leak in the early hours of Wednesday, has killed at least 37 miners in Kampani Zurak community of Wase local government area of Plateau state.
This was confirmed by a miner in the area identified as Safiyanu Haruna.
Haruna also said that over 20 victims sustained vary degrees of injuries in the incident and had been evacuated to a hospital in Wase town for immediate medical attention.
According to Haruna, the incident happened at 6:30am when the victims, who had performed their morning prayers, returned to the mining site and suddenly fell victims to the gas leak.
“It was carbon monoxide gas that leaked and killed them. Waking up to the sad story of losing 37 miners who had been struggling to make ends meet.
“We’re disturbed by the incident. Around 5:30 am, they were all alive because they had left the site for morning prayer, and it was when they returned to the site that they were found in this condition.
”There was no rescue at the time of the incident because those who were supposed to come in the morning were yet to arrive at the scene. 37 persons were confirmed killed while over 20 were injured and are receiving treatment in the hospital,” the miner said.
Haruna further said the funeral prayer of the deceased is ongoing in the community.
Authorities are yet to comment on the incident but residents of the community told journalists that the chairman of the LGA was at the funeral prayer of the deceased who are predominantly Muslim.
