Ten miners who were trapped underground for three days after a mining pit collapsed at Konongo in the Ashanti Region have all been rescued alive, bringing immense relief to the local community.

The miners became trapped on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, when an underground pit caved in at a concession belonging to Northern Ashanti Mines in the Asante-Akyem Central Municipality, blocking their exit route with debris.

Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Rev. Ebenezer Kow Aidoo confirmed the successful rescue operation on Friday evening. “As at 7:45 p.m. this evening, all ten of them have been saved. We have sent them to the hospital and they are receiving medical attention,” he stated.

A Coordinated Emergency Response

The multi-day rescue operation was a collaborative effort involving personnel from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), emergency medical teams, security agencies, specialist rescue teams from Obuasi, and local fellow miners.

Earlier on Friday, hope intensified when emergency responders reported hearing voices echoing from beneath the collapsed section. Asante-Akyem Central Director of NADMO, Lanbon Joseph, noted at the time that rescue efforts were significantly complicated by deep structural collapses and highly unstable ground conditions, which caused loose sand to repeatedly block access routes.

Conditions of the Survivors

Despite initial fears regarding oxygen depletion and the physical toll of the three-day entrapment, many of the miners appeared remarkably stable upon reaching the surface. The MCE described emotional scenes at the site, noting that survivors were jumping and embracing anxious family members who had kept vigil.

Medical teams had prepared for the rescue by setting up emergency beds equipped with oxygen and intravenous fluids.While the majority are stable, one of the victims remains in critical condition at the Konongo-Odumasi Government Hospital due to life-threatening injuries sustained during the initial collapse.

Officials indicated that access to water pools within the underground shaft likely played a key role in the miners' survival.According to technical experts, individuals trapped in such underground structures can survive for up to seven days under specific conditions.

Investigation and Encroachment Concerns

The incident occurred at an old shaft on the concession of Northern Ashanti Mines Company Limited. Management for the company clarified that the individuals involved were not employees but were operating unlawfully within the concession area. The company has since engaged state security and traditional authorities to help decommission illegal operations and secure the site.

Local authorities and the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) have launched an investigation into the exact cause of the collapse. The incident has renewed national discussions regarding safety standards, structural maintenance, and the ongoing formalization of small-scale mining sectors across Ghana.