A mining catastrophe in the remote Pakaraima Mountain Range of Guyana has claimed the lives of two Brazilian nationals, casting a spotlight on the perils of the region’s gold mining industry. The Guyana Police Force confirmed the fatalities, which resulted from a sudden pit collapse on December 30th.
The victims have been identified as Cleumiton Da Silva Santos, 37, and Antonio Filho, 44. The tragic incident unfolded at the ‘S’ Bend Backdam mining site near Chenapou, North Pakaraimas, an area situated within the geologically striking Region 8, renowned for its iconic tabletop mountains.
According to an official police statement, preliminary investigations indicate that a substantial quantity of sand unexpectedly gave way and collapsed into the excavation where the men were working. Fellow miners at the scene managed to escape the cascading debris, but Santos and Filho were tragically entrapped. They were subsequently retrieved by responders but were declared deceased at the scene.
The extreme remoteness of the location has presented significant logistical challenges. The bodies of the deceased currently remain at the ‘S’ Bend Backdam site. Authorities are coordinating complex efforts to transport them to the Mahdia District Hospital, where formal post-mortem examinations will be conducted to determine the exact causes of death.
The Guyana Police Force has emphasized that its investigation into the precise circumstances surrounding the structural failure of the mining pit remains active and ongoing. This event underscores the persistent dangers faced by workers in Guyana’s prolific yet often hazardous mining sector.