At least six illegal miners, commonly referred to as ‘galamseyers’, are feared dead after being trapped and suffocated deep within the underground shafts of the Bogoso-Prestea Mine in the Western Region, MyJoyOnline sources have revealed.
The disaster, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon (November 18, 2025), is suspected to have been caused by an unidentified noxious smoke, resulting from an unauthorised underground blast in the abandoned pit of Heath Goldfields.
The incident highlights the critical and dangerous penetration of illegal mining operations despite ongoing security efforts.
The tragedy struck at Level 8 and Level 9 of the mine’s underground area, some of the deepest and most challenging sections of the operation.
Authorities are facing difficulties in confirming the exact number of fatalities due to the clandestine nature of the victims’ entry.
The final death toll is feared to exceed the initial estimates, given the remote and expansive nature of the underground workings illegally accessed by the miners.
Initial reports pegged the death toll at 11, while others claimed 30 lives may have been lost.
While an official statement from management or the police is pending, mine sources suggest the deaths could be attributed to asphyxiation due to carbon gas (likely Carbon Monoxide or Carbon Dioxide), which rapidly filled the mine tunnels following the unsanctioned explosion carried out by the illegal miners themselves.