A woman miner was on Tuesday killed after a mining pit caved in on her while punting for gold at Arakaka Backdam, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini) 
Dead is 44-year-old Eleen Figuera of Two Miles Arakaka.
Based on information received, the now dead woman and others were working in the pit when the mud walls suddenly caved in and covered her. The others managed to escape with minor bruises.
Figuera was subsequently pulled from the pit and taken to the Pakera District Hospital, NWD, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Her body is at the Pakera District Hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem. An investigation was launched into the incident.
In October, Lennox Douglas, 33, of Canvas City, Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) died at Issano Backdam, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) after the mining pit in which he was working collapsed.
It was reported that the now dead man was working when “very hard mud” fell on him, pinning him to the ground. He was taken for medical attention, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
In September, Deon Sproston, called “Jersey Joe”, 36, of Lot 133 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and a miner only known as “Shawn” lost their lives in similar fashion at Mowasi Backdam, Konawaruk, Potaro, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
It was reported that the two men and other persons were working the walls of the pit with metal detectors searching for gold while it was raining heavily. While working, a large portion of the pit wall suddenly broke off and fell on both men, burying them alive.
In January, 23-year-old Handel Payne, also called “Daggie” of Kaneville Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) died after the mining pit in which he was working at 35 Miles, Konawaruk Backdam, collapsed.
Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that Payne and others were working in the mining pit when a piece of the mud wall collapsed behind them and subsequently struck Payne in the mid-section. He reportedly fell unconscious by which time the water began to rise rapidly. He was submerged and subsequently drowned. He was later pulled out, and rushed to the Mahdia Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
In April, a miner named Kevin Adams, 25, of Linden, died at Chinese Creek Backdam, Mazaruni River, Region Seven after a pit caved in and buried him alive.
One month later, in May, Ken Ranny, 20, a resident of Kamarang, Upper Mazaruni River, died after he was covered by mud after the wall of a mining pit in which he was working collapsed at Pepper Camp Backdam, Upper Mazaruni River.
Then, one month later, in June, miner Elmo Adams died after he too was buried alive after the walls of a pit in which he was working caved at Imbaimadai, Upper Mazaruni.
Back in 2015, 10 persons died in a mining pit in the Konawaruk area after it collapsed. The incident saw 17 miners being buried under a pile of dirt and rubble, but seven managed to escape alive with various injuries.
The others remained trapped under the dirt where they perished. The 10 miners were Leyland Jones, Jason Trotman, Vick Bernard, Frank Bernard, Desmond Martins, Raymond August, Brian Bank, Trevon Phillips, Nanmore Kurt and another man identified only as “Michael”.
The deaths were blamed on heavy rains in the area, improper mine design, and poor safety practices at the mining camp.
