At least 37 miners died from carbon monoxide poisoning at a mining site in Plateau State, Nigeria, a police source and a security report seen by Reuters said on Wednesday.
The accident occurred at around 5:45 a.m. in a mine pit in Kambani, a community in the Wasi district, according to the report. 25 other miners were taken to hospital.
Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Development Minister, Dele Alaki, said the area was an abandoned lead site containing stored metals vulnerable to the release of toxic gases. He added that the villagers, unaware of the toxic nature of the emissions, entered the tunnel to extract minerals and inhaled the gas.
Alaki has ordered the closure of mining areas covered by License No. 11810, operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited and owned by Abdullahi Dan China in Zaraq, following the death of villagers allegedly mining in a pit containing dangerous gas emissions.
The security report said that preliminary results showed that the victims, aged between 20 and 35, died after inhaling gas while working underground.
The Plateau State government said many were feared dead, without providing a figure, adding that others were being treated in nearby hospitals.
Security forces cordoned off the site to prevent further access.
Most mines in Nigeria operate illegally, with limited safety measures and miners often lacking protective equipment.
The federal government ordered the immediate closure of all mining activities in the affected area pending further investigations.
