Wase, Nigeria – Tragedy struck in Plateau State on Wednesday after a toxic gas leak at an underground mining site in Wase Local Government Area claimed the lives of more than 30 workers.
Okay News reports that the victims reportedly inhaled carbon monoxide that had built up inside poorly ventilated tunnels while carrying out routine mining operations.
Eyewitnesses said many of the miners, mostly young men aged between 20 and 35, suddenly collapsed underground. Several others were rescued and rushed to a nearby health facility, where some remain in critical condition.
A local miner, Haruna Safiyanu, said the dangerous gas accumulation went unnoticed until workers began losing consciousness. Rescue teams later secured the site and evacuated survivors for urgent medical attention. The acting traditional ruler, Alhaji Aliyu Adamu Idris, confirmed that at least 38 people have died, while about 27 others are receiving treatment.
Authorities have since launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident and review safety standards at the mining location to prevent a repeat occurrence. The development comes months after a similar mining disaster in Zamfara State, where heavy rainfall triggered a deadly site collapse.
