By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEWOR DISTRICT, Liberia- The two persons who died in Monday’s tragedy in an illegal gold mine in Tewor District, Grand Cape Mount County, western Liberia, were buried Tuesday, May 5, 2020, after being turned over to family members by the County Health Team (CHT).
This area is situated over 86 kilometers from Monrovia.
So far, survivors and officials say two persons were killed and four others were injured in the incident, bringing the total number of persons affected by the mudslide to six on Monday, May 5, 2020.
The late Alpha Trawally and another only identified as Lasso, were among 4 “illegal miners” buried in the mudslide. They had reportedly gone to mine at a site between Masaakpaoh and Bangoma, in the absence of the mine’s owner, according to Soa Getaweh, one of the survivors.
Grand Cape Mount County Health Team HT turned over the deceased to family members after concluding its own probe of the incident.
The four others, who survived the misfortune, are said to have run away after an ambulance brought in by the Health Team to ferry survivors to the hospital for treatment arrived at the scene.
Deaths resulting from mudslide is frequent among Liberia’s alluvial and illicit miners, most of whom operate illegally around the country.
The worst case recently occurred early February 20219 in Gbanipea, Lower Nimba County in which at least 40 miners got killed, causing government to declare a day of national mourning.
Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf told state radio, ELBC on Tuesday that something urgently needs to be done to close down illicit mining sites across Liberia.