Thirteen (13) illegal miners have been confirmed dead in an underground explosion at Gbane, a mining community in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.
Dozens others were also injured in the blast and receiving treatment at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.
The condition of some of them are said to be critical.
Dr. Patrick Atobrah, medical Director of the facility, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that three of the victims were brought in dead, while 10 died, moments after their admission.
They are all men and believed to have died from toxic gas inhalation, head and chest injuries.
The cause of the blast has not yet been established but some people are blaming Shaanxi Mining Ghana Limited, a small mining company, operating in the area.
The company however profusely denies that.
Illegal mining has been popular in Gbane – the activity has been going on there for about one-and-a-half decades.
Dr. Atobrah expressed worry about the complete disregard for safety standards by illegal miners.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Christopher Boatbil, who was at the hospital to see the victims, told the GNA that about 30 injured persons were rushed to the Afrikids Medical Centre, a private hospital.
No death had been reported at that facility.
One of the injured miners on admission at the regional hospital, Kwabina Nabil, said there were about 200 of them at the illegal mining site at the time of the blast.
