CMC – Labour Minister, Keoma Griffith, says a multi-agency investigation has been launched into the death of two miners following another mining pit cave-in at St. Elizabeth Backdam in the Potaro, Region 8 area.
The two dead gold miners have been identified as 32-year-old Franky Hussain of North West District and 38-year-old Brazilian national, Neunes Da Silva. They were among a group of mine workers operating in a 60-ft deep mining pit last Saturday when sections of the eastern and western walls suddenly started to collapse on them.
Some of the mine workers managed to escape from the pit, but Hussain and DaSilva got trapped under the debris and were left buried along with an excavator. The other mine workers launched a rescue attempt but that soon turned into a recovery operation as it became clearer that the two men did not survive. Their bodies were later recovered.
Griffith confirmed that an investigation is taking place and that his Ministry will be part of the probe. The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Police are among the other agencies probing the matter.
