carbon monoxide kills miners in Nigeria
At least 30 miners have reportedly died following a suspected carbon monoxide leak at an illegal mining site in Nigeria, according to eyewitnesses and local sources familiar with the incident. The tragedy is said to have occurred when toxic fumes accumulated underground, overwhelming workers who were operating in confined conditions.
Witnesses said the miners were trapped inside the pit after inhaling the gas, with rescue efforts hampered by poor ventilation and a lack of safety equipment. Many of the victims were believed to be artisanal miners, a group often exposed to high risks due to informal operations and limited regulatory oversight.
Local residents described scenes of panic as survivors attempted to alert authorities and retrieve bodies from the site. Emergency response teams were later mobilised, but by the time access was secured, dozens of miners were already dead. Officials are yet to release a definitive casualty figure or formal statement confirming the cause.
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that can be fatal when inhaled in high concentrations, especially in enclosed underground spaces. Experts have repeatedly warned that illegal and poorly regulated mining sites pose serious dangers, including gas exposure, tunnel collapse, and flooding.
The incident has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of mining regulations and improved safety standards to protect vulnerable workers. Community leaders and civil society groups are urging the government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and take steps to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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