At least 100 people are feared dead following the collapse of a gold mining pit in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria. Survivors and local residents who escaped the disaster reported that many miners were working in the pit when the collapse happened early today. 

The collapse took place in a region known for artisanal and informal mining, where regulations and safety standards are often minimal. Rescue teams have started operations but face challenges due to the unstable ground and remote location of the mining site. Local sources warn that the death toll may rise as many miners remain unaccounted for. 

Officials and community leaders have expressed concern over such accidents, citing repeated incidents in artisanal mining pits across northern Nigeria. Zamfara in particular has a history of gold mine collapses, many of them involving illegal operations without proper oversight or safety infrastructure. 

Among those who survived, some described a sudden give-way of the mine walls, followed by torrents of soil and water. Eyewitnesses said they heard shouts and saw miners trapped as the pit’s walls caved in. 

The state government has not yet released a definitive number of confirmed deaths. Rescue operations are being coordinated with local emergency response teams, but officials say they lack adequate heavy-duty equipment in some locations, slowing down recovery and search work. 

Meanwhile, families of missing miners gathered at the edge of the collapsed pit, waiting for updates and hoping for survivors. Some have started identifying personal effects thrown up by the collapse, while others wait for rescue workers to retrieve bodies. Local NGOs have also called for urgent medical aid, water, and food to support those affected. 

The incident has renewed scrutiny of mining practices in Nigeria, especially the risks associated with unregulated artisanal gold mining. Experts warn that without improved safety measures, training, and regulation, such tragedies may continue. Rescue authorities say they will press ahead with digging through rubble and hope to reach all trapped persons soon.