37 Miners Dead, 25 Hospitalised in Carbon Monoxide Tragedy at Plateau Mining Site

By Emmanuel Kwada

At least 37 miners have died and 25 others remain hospitalised following a deadly carbon monoxide gas exposure at an underground mining site in Zurak community, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The incident occurred early on Tuesday, February 18, at a facility operated by Solid Mining Company, where workers were carrying out routine operations deep underground.

Some of the 37 Corps.

Sources indicate that the victims—mostly young men aged between 20 and 35—inhaled toxic carbon monoxide that had built up in poorly ventilated tunnels, leading to sudden suffocation and collapse.

Eyewitness accounts described chaotic scenes as miners began collapsing inside the tunnels, prompting frantic efforts by colleagues to evacuate survivors.

Rescue teams, supported by site personnel, quickly sealed off the affected area and rushed the injured to a nearby primary health centre for urgent treatment. Several of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition.

Police sources confirmed that the mining site has been fully secured to prevent any further exposure and to facilitate a detailed investigation into the cause of the gas accumulation.

“The site is under strict control, and emergency protocols are being followed to manage the situation,” a security source stated.

The tragedy has once again spotlighted the persistent safety hazards in Nigeria’s underground mining sector, particularly the dangers of inadequate ventilation, lack of gas monitoring equipment, and insufficient emergency preparedness in deep shafts.

Experts stress that regular gas detection systems, proper airflow mechanisms, and strict adherence to safety regulations are essential to avert such preventable disasters.

Authorities have vowed a comprehensive probe, including an examination of whether the mining company complied with national safety standards and any lapses in oversight by relevant regulators.

Officials are expected to release further details soon, including victim identities and official statements from mining authorities.

This incident adds to the growing concerns over occupational hazards in Plateau State’s mining communities, where artisanal and small-scale operations often face limited enforcement of safety protocols.

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