MONROVIA, Liberia — Liberian officials say five bodies were recovered Wednesday and 40 are still trapped in a collapsed gold mine. Officials fear those still in the pit mine in northeastern Liberia, which collapsed on Saturday, may also be dead, although some survivors have been rescued. Nimba County superintendent Dorr Cooper said miners are searching for survivors with their bare hands. He said no excavating equipment is available and such heavy machinery could accidentally kill those trapped below. He said the Tappita area has more than 100,000 self-employed miners and is rife with “uncontrolled and illegal” mining.

Source: Washington Post February 13, 2019 14:15 UTC