The people who were trapped in the opal mining pit in South Wolo were buried for three days. Local authorities told the BBC that efforts to rescue several people who were trapped in a cave collapsed while mining opal in South Wolo Zone, Delanta District, Amhara Region, continued for the third day without success.
Due to the difficult topography of the area, it is not possible to dig with a vehicle, so they requested those with experience and equipment in this field to support the rescue efforts.
The cave collapsed on the miners who were trying to dig for opal ore at night and an unknown number of people were buried. Nothing is known about their condition yet.
South Wolo Zone Communications said the number of people who collapsed in a mining tunnel in a steep area is more than 20, but the local authorities say that it is difficult to know the exact number. Delanta District Chief Administrator Ato Ayaleu Berihun told the BBC that the collapse of the cave occurred last Thursday after six o’clock in the morning.
The accident took place at a place called Kok Water in Kebele called 018 Alewat in Delanta District of South Wolo Zone. The manager said that the cave collapsed and the buried people went to the place at night and the reason for the accident was that their number was not known correctly.
Ali Mekonen, the chief administrator of South Wolo Zone, told the BBC that because the area is steep and the tunnels previously dug for opal mining are dangerous, he was warning the local residents. After the accident was known, rescue efforts are underway to save the lives of the people buried under the cave, but due to the difficult topography of the place, it was not possible to move as required.
Over the past few days, more than five hundred people have gone to the place to help in the rescue work, but the road leading to the cave is narrow and they cannot enter more than ten people at a time, so their efforts have been slow. In addition, Ato Ayaleu pointed out that due to previous excavations, the terrain of the area is not strong, causing another threat to the people who are doing rescue efforts, as the soil is being eroded.
Ali Mekonen, the manager of the zone, told the BBC that although there is a desire to help the excavation work with machines, the steepness of the area “is not suitable for getting enough people, let alone an excavator vehicle.” After the accident, the exact number of people who were in the cave at the time of the collapse is unknown, the district administrator said that different figures will be released from the residents
