Thirty-seven people were reportedly killed and 26 others hospitalised following a toxic gas leak at a mine in north-central Nigeria, the Associated Press (AP) reported, citing the Nigerian Police Force.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday in the Kampani Zurak community, located in the Wase area of Plateau State, police spokesman Alfred Alabo said in a statement.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the miners were affected by a sudden discharge of lead oxide and other associated gases such as sulphur and carbon monoxide, which are toxic and poisonous to humans, particularly in a confined or poorly ventilated environment,” he said.
“The corpses of the deceased victims have been released to their families for burial in accordance with their religious practices.”
The Nigerian government has closed the mining site, and an investigation into the leak is underway.
The miners were reportedly unaware of the toxic nature of the emissions and continued their operations, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said in a statement.
It remains unclear what was being mined at the site and whether the operation was legal.
Nigeria has been attempting to rein in illegal gold mining operations across the country, which has claimed hundreds of lives over the years.
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