At least 37 people died and 26 others were hospitalized after a toxic gas leak at a mine in north-central Nigeria, police said.
The incident took place early Tuesday in Kampani Zurak community in the Wase area of Plateau state, according to police spokesperson Alfred Alabo.
Preliminary findings indicate that the miners were exposed to a sudden release of lead oxide along with other harmful gases, including sulphur and carbon monoxide, which are highly toxic, especially in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces, he said. The bodies of the victims have been handed over to their families for burial in line with their religious customs.
Authorities have shut down the mining site, and an investigation into the cause of the leak is ongoing.
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake said the miners were unaware of the dangerous nature of the emissions and continued working despite the exposure.
It remains unclear what mineral was being extracted at the site or whether the operation was legal. Nigeria has been grappling with illegal gold mining activities for years, with hundreds of fatalities reported in related incidents.