Woman dies after mining pit collapses

Nov 22, 2018 News

The lure of gold has claimed the life of a 48-year-old woman, who perished after a mining pit collapsed on her around 10.20 yesterday.
Police identified the victim as Elaine Figueira, of Two Miles, Arakaka, North West District. She is one of the first women to perish in a mining mishap.
Police said that Figueira and her daughter left their home around 09.30 hrs yesterday to visit Figueira’s sister.
The two sisters then began talking about a gold ‘shout’ at Red Road, Arakaka. Figueira collected her sister’s battel and cutlass and headed for the area.
It is alleged that Figueira then entered a mining pit and was digging when a section of the pit collapsed and pinned her.
She was pulled out from the pit by her daughter, Teletha France, and taken to the Pakera Health Centre.
A medic there pronounced her dead.
The body is presently at the Pakera District Hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.
In October, the Ministry of Natural Resources revealed that Region Eight had recorded 14 deaths mining for the year. Most had occurred at Mahdia.
The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission later launched a crackdown on illegal and unsafe operations.

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