Three more bodies were pulled yesterday from the mine that collapsed on Sunday at Konawaruk, Region Eight bringing the confirmed death toll to ten with the search still on for another person.
The collapse of the mine triggered the single highest casualty in the mining sector in recent decades and raised numerous questions about safety in the industry and who should be facing criminal charges as a result.
Michael Gardener, 26, Brian Brittlebank, 46, Linden and Raymond August, Jason Trotman and Leland Jones were identified on Tuesday. Yesterday, Lubina Greene’s worst nightmare came true as the body of the father of her child Esmond Martin was identified. Another man, Orlando Richmond was also identified.
The search continues for the bodies of Trevon Phillips and Frank and Vic Bernard.
Seven of the workers survived the cave-in with non-life threatening injuries. Shawn Xavier, 24, of the East Coast Demerara, said he was the most “banged up” with head trauma but noted that he was feeling better when Stabroek News spoke with him on Monday.
Sheldon Adams, 32, of Bee Hive, East Coast Demerara, said he was treated for a large gash on his right foot, which required nine stitches. He said that the rescued men all suffered trauma to various parts of their bodies but noted that they were lucky to be alive.
Regan Greene, 34, of the Essequibo Coast, said he foresaw his neck pain being a chronic issue. He said he was thankful that he along with his cousin, Alix Green, 28, were alive.
The other three men who spoke to Stabroek News were Henry Xavier from the North Pakaraimas, Roswell Andrews, 49, from the Rupununi, and Collymore Lewis, from the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region.
Stabroek News was told that the General Manager of the operation was warned by a worker that the pit had a crack and that the heavy rainfall made the risk of it collapsing very real.
A worker also said that from Sunday morning as heavy rains came the pit started cracking and this was brought to the attention of the manager by another young man. He that it was when they returned to the pit after lunch that it rapidly caved in from the top, covering the crew and their equipment.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association said that the mining cave-in was due to criminal negligence on the part of the operator.
According to a report by the GGDMA, the mining face and pit walls were too high and too steep, almost vertical in places; the operation was too close to the face and walls. It noted that the walls were some 90 to 100 feet with no stepping.
With the rain and with water jetting from two dredges, the ground became very saturated and the soil unconsolidated. As a result, there was general slump failure. The cave-in happened quickly, burying 10 of the workers and the equipment.
