With dangerous weather conditions persisting, six bodies have been recovered from the caved in mining pit at Mowsie Backdam, in Region Eight, while efforts were underway last night to locate the remainder.
According to a Guyana Police Force official, the rescue efforts were expected to go into the night to retrieve the four other bodies. Initial reports from the region indicated that as many as 11 men may have died in the accident.
Stabroek News was also told that the owner of the operation, Imran Khan, flew into Mahdia yesterday morning and was at the site during the recovery efforts.
Khan had urged the rescue team to work quickly to remove bodies as he worked to notify the families of the deceased.
Site Manager Leland Jones was trapped under the heavy sludge along with his workers and a relative told Stabroek News that the man’s nephew, Jason Trotman, 20, was also one of the miners trapped in the cave-in.
She said that the lack of cell coverage has prevented her from receiving frequent information but she was made aware that the men had died and that efforts were underway to retrieve their bodies as well as others.
Seven men were rescued on Sunday night after the initial collapse, which occurred at approximately 2.30 pm. The close to 100-feet pit was being worked by the two crews assigned to two dredges.
The rescued men were treated at the Mahdia Hospital and some of the men were sent to Georgetown for further medical attention.
Stabroek News spoke with all seven of the rescued men.
They were injured to varying degrees but none of their injuries were life threatening. Shawn Xavier, 24, of the East Coast Demerara, said he was the most “banged up” with head trauma. However, he was doing better yesterday.
He recalled that the cave in happened very quickly and that the heavy rainfall contributed to the collapse.
Skeldon Adams, 32, of Bee Hive, East Coast Demerara, said he was treated for a large gash on his right foot, which required nine stitches. He said that the rescued men all suffered trauma to various parts of their bodies but noted that they were lucky to be alive.
Regan Greene, 34, of the Essequibo Coast, said he foresaw his neck pain being a chronic issue. He said he was thankful that he along with his cousin, Alec Green, 28, were alive.
The other three men who spoke to Stabroek News were Henry Xavier from the North Pakaraimas, Roswell Andrews, 49, from the Rupununi, and Collymore Lewis, from the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region.
The land where the pit was dug has been the subject of a dispute for some time and its owner, Harold Hopkinson, last year went to the courts to stop the illegal mining on his property.
The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission had also ordered Khan to cease operations but the mining on the property continued.
Stabroek News was told that the General Manager of the operation was warned by a worker that the pit had a crack and that the heavy rainfall made the risk of it collapsing very real.
A worker also said that from Sunday morning as heavy rains came the pit started cracking and this was brought to the attention of the manager by another young man.
He said the workers’ concerns were dismissed and the crew worked through without any problems and came up for lunch shortly after 11.30 am.
He that it was when they returned to the pit that it rapidly caved in from the top, covering the crew and their equipment.
Persons from nearby camps rushed to the scene and began assisting in the rescue. The police were also alerted to the collapse.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Asso-ciation (GGDMA) yesterday said that it had dispatched a team to the Mowasi, Konawaruk area to probe the accident.
In a statement, the Association said it was “deeply saddened by this tragic accident and will take all the necessary steps to fully investigate the cause of the tragedy.” It said that the team left yesterday morning at 9.30 and comprised President of the GGDMA Patrick Harding; Simona Broomes of the Guyana Women Miners Organisa-tion; Mr Ramdass of the GGMC; Mr Giddings, GGDMA Engineer and Natural Resources Minister-designate Dr Rupert Roopnaraine.
The statement said the team would inspect the area and monitor the rescue effort that was underway.
