Two teenagers die after being buried alive in an illegal gold mine collapse in Sierra Leonean village

There is a sense of disbelief in this Sierra Leonean village as people weep in front of the bodies of two teenage boys wrapped in white cloth. The day before, 16-year-old Mohamed Bangura and 17-year-old Yayah Jenneh left their homes in Nyimbadu, in the country’s Eastern Province, hoping to earn a little extra money for their families.

They had gone in search of gold but never returned. The makeshift pit they were digging in collapsed on them. This was the third fatal mine accident, leaving a total of at least five children dead, in the last four years in this region.

The Eastern Province has historically been known for diamond mining. But in recent years, informal or artisanal gold mining has expanded as the diamond reserves have been depleted. Few formal mining companies are operating here, but in the areas which are not considered profitable, the landscape is dotted with these unregulated pits that can be as deep as 4m (13 feet). Similar and equally dangerous mines can be found in many African countries and there are often reports of deadly collapses.

“We need help,” an activist Mr Ansumana, says… “Not prayers. Not promises. Help.”