Several brick workers are feared dead after a sand pit used for brick-making collapsed on Wednesday morning in Ridawa village, Ghari Local Government Area of Kano State. The incident occurred in the early hours of the day while a group of labourers were digging earth inside a deep pit for brick production.
According to residents, the workers were inside the excavation site when the pit suddenly caved in, trapping several of them beneath the debris. The collapse triggered panic in the community as fellow workers and residents rushed to the scene to begin rescue efforts.
Sani Bala, Ghari/Tsanyawa Federal Constituency Representative, said preliminary reports suggested that about ten people might still be trapped underground. Bala called for urgent intervention from relevant authorities to support the ongoing rescue operation.
He appealed for the immediate deployment of specialised rescue equipment, including a rescue vehicle, to speed up the evacuation of victims and prevent further loss of lives. “We need urgent assistance to save those still trapped. The community is doing its best, but professional rescue support is required,” he said.
Safety concerns rise in rural brick-making sites
Rescue operations have continued for more than five hours, with villagers and emergency responders digging through the rubble in an effort to reach those still buried. However, as of the time of filing this report, several victims had yet to be rescued, heightening fears that the death toll could rise.
Residents said incidents of pit collapse are not uncommon in rural brick-making sites, where workers often dig deep pits without protective structures or safety supervision. Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while rescue teams continue efforts to locate and evacuate the trapped workers.
