Two bodies uncovered, 13 unaccounted – Central Acting PA Koaba

By Harlyne Joku
Bad weather has delayed the second relief supplies to the landslide victims at Saki village near the former Tolukuma Gold Mine in Woitape, Goilala in the Central province.
Acting Provincial Administrator for Central Province Mr Francis Koaba confirmed that earlier today (Wednesday) a provincial disaster team and supplies including digging tools and chainsaws to assist in retrieving the buried bodies.
Mr Koaba further confirmed that 13 people are still buried in a landslide that swept down on the hut they were sleeping in at dawn on Monday.
Only two bodies have been uncovered.
“As of yesterday, information received from the Member for Goilala William Samb on site is that a total of 15 people were buried alive in the landslide. Two were uncovered and 13 unaccounted for,” Mr Koaba said.
“This morning the Disaster Team and supplies including digging tools and chainsaws were dispatched to the site by the Central Province Administration. The second flight this afternoon has been deferred to tomorrow (Thursday) due to bad weather,” Mr Koaba said.
The Saki hamlet is a three hour walk around rugged and deep gorges from the former Tolukuma Gold Mine. Saki has become a small hub where small scale alluvial gold miners estimated at 3001 from surrounding villagers’ camp to pan for gold.