Two miners die in Marudi tunnel collapse

Leon Mootoo

Two miners, one of whom was the chairman of the Marudi Miners Association died when the tunnel they were working in at Mazoa Mountain, Marudi, Region Nine caved in yesterday morning.

Dead are Clifton Rodrigues of Marudi and Leon Mootoo, 21, of West Berbice. Fernando Laita, 32, of Aishalton, Deep South Rupununi survived. The body of Rodrigues, who earlier this year became chairman of the Marudi Miners Association, was recovered late yesterday afternoon while Mootoo’s body was recovered earlier in the day. Laita sustained lacerations to the head and bruises about the body and was expected to arrive at the Aishalton District Hospital last night.

The trio was working in a tunnel in the Mazoa Mountain called “The Throne” when it