Bea Mountain confirms One Death, Two Injured in Mine Accident

Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC) has confirmed that only one person lost their life, and two others were injured in a recent accident at one of the company’s mining sites in Grand Cape Mount County.
In recent days, some media outlets had reported a significant casualty toll, with one report even suggesting a major landslide at the Bea Mountain mining site, resulting in three deaths and 85 individuals trapped underground. Other reports erroneously indicated a death toll of 49.
However, setting the record straight, Shadrach Fahnbulleh, the Health and Safety Manager of BMMC, speaking to reporters at the accident site revealed that, contrary to the numerous reports, the incident resulted in the tragic death of one Liberian worker, identified as Thomas Haines, and the injury of two expatriates, Muzatter Cengerz and Bagi Caba. Fahnbulleh said Haines passed away upon arrival at the clinic in Grand Cape Mount County, while the two expatriates have been transferred to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital. Medical professionals have recommended that they be flown out of the country for advanced medical treatment.
“We initially decided to take all three of them to our on-site clinic. However, Haines’ condition deteriorated rapidly, so we rushed them to the clinic near Senji where he sadly could not be saved. The doctors advised that we transfer the other two to Monrovia for further treatment, and they have been referred to the JFK Medical Center. It’s important to clarify that there was no landslide, as has been inaccurately reported. Only three individuals were involved in this incident,” Fahnbulleh stated.
Fahnbulleh clarified that, contrary to the reports of a mudslide, the three individuals were under the mine when pieces of rocks fell on them, causing severe injuries. He emphasized that there was no mudslide at the mine and underlined that this incident represents the first of its kind at the mine. The management, he noted, has initiated a comprehensive investigation to determine the root cause of the accident, while simultaneously implementing all necessary safety measures.
The deceased has been laid to rest in accordance with his religious beliefs. Speaking to reporters in Kinjor, the town chief, Zinnah Darblo, and relatives of the deceased confirmed that only one fatality and two injuries occurred. Chief Darblo, who also happened to be a relative of the deceased, expressed the family’s grief and explained that, in accordance with their faith, they requested the body and proceeded with the burial. The community is now preparing for a memorial feast. While recognizing the inevitability of death, he called upon the company to reconsider its underground mining approach and transition to open-pit mining to prevent further casualties in the future.
Bea Mountain is Liberia’s largest gold mining company, with a history of nearly two decades in the country. This year, BMMC renewed its Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with the Government of Liberia, granting the company the right to expand its operating areas. Both the company and the government have indicated that the renewed MDA will create more job opportunities for local citizens.