MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Government of Liberia has received news of a mudslide in Chio Town, Rivercess County, leaving several persons dead and many more injured.

 Tens of artisanal miners from nearby towns and villages had caved in an abandoned pit dug by a gold mining company a few months ago.

Reacting to the deadly incident on behalf of the Liberian Government, Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah told MICAT Press Briefing that up to ten persons have been pronounced dead.

Minister Piah said:” Search and rescue operations are ongoing to retrieve the unspecified number of persons trapped under the rubble.”

The Information Minister stated that the National Disaster Management Agency, the Armed Forces of Liberia, the Liberia National Police, the Red Cross, the Ministries of Health, and Mines and Energy are leading ongoing joint search and rescue operations.