Published: October 27, 2025
BOMI COUNTY — A 37-year-old miner, Soko Smith, was killed Monday when a section of an open-pit mine collapsed in Mamboo Camp Two.
Witnesses said the incident occurred during regular mining activities at the site, where dozens of residents had gathered in search of gold. Without warning, the earth beneath Smith’s feet gave way, burying him under a mass of soil and rock.
“We heard a loud rumbling and saw the ground cave in,” one miner recalled. “Everyone rushed to help, digging with our hands, but it was too late.”
Despite frantic rescue efforts by fellow miners and community members, Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was later recovered and laid to rest near the same site where he worked daily to support his family.
A Beloved Worker and Friend
Known to many simply as “SOK,” Smith was admired for his friendliness, humility, and strong work ethic. Residents described him as a dependable man who rarely missed a day’s work and was always willing to lend a hand to others.
“He was a man of peace, someone everyone respected,” said one neighbor. “He worked hard, smiled often, and never complained, no matter how tough things got.”
Authorities Launch Investigation
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the landslide. Officials from the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Bomi County Administration are expected to visit the site to assess safety conditions and determine whether unregulated excavation contributed to the collapse.
Preliminary reports suggest that years of uncontrolled digging have left the area’s soil dangerously unstable. Several nearby pits, according to local miners, have been abandoned without refilling or reinforcement, creating deep cavities prone to collapse after heavy rainfall.
A Town Eroded by Mining
Once a lush settlement surrounded by dense greenery, Mamboo Camp Two has gradually transformed into a sprawling mining zone pockmarked by open pits and makeshift shafts. The rush for gold has drawn both Liberian and foreign miners, many of whom work without safety equipment or government supervision.
“The place used to be full of trees and farms,” a community elder lamented. “Now it looks like a battlefield, just holes and mud everywhere.”
Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that without regulation or rehabilitation, artisanal mining in the region will continue to endanger both lives and livelihoods.
“This tragedy was avoidable,” said a mining safety advocate contacted by The Liberian Investigator. “The land has been weakened by years of uncontrolled excavation. If nothing changes, this won’t be the last time we lose someone.”
The Human Cost of Survival
The incident has renewed debate over the risks faced by Liberia’s thousands of artisanal miners — most of whom operate informally under harsh conditions. With few employment alternatives, many see small-scale mining as their only means of survival despite the danger.
“People know the risk, but poverty leaves them no choice,” said a local youth leader. “When you’re trying to feed your family, you dig, even if the ground might fall on you.”
Community in Mourning
As the community gathered to bury Smith, grief and disbelief filled the air. Miners stood silently by the shallow grave, their faces streaked with dirt and tears.
“He died doing what he loved, trying to make an honest living,” said one mourner softly. “We just pray his death won’t be in vain.”
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