At least 37 miners have died after a suspected gas leak in Nigeria. According to the reports, the incident is believed to have happened just before sunrise at a site outside the town of Wase run by the mining company Solid Unity Nigeria Ltd.

The mine, which is about 200km (124 miles) south-east of the state capital of Jos, has been sealed off by the security personnel as the investigations continued to identify the cause of the leak.

Toxic gas is thought to have accumulated underground in the poorly ventilated tunnels, causing the workers to collapse shortly before the end of their night shift. They were found by colleagues arriving for the morning shift, and more than 20 other miners were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment.

Safiyanu Haruna, one of the miners who found the bodies at the start of his shift, told the BBC that some of the miners who were underground survived and were taken to a hospital in Wase for treatment.

He said: “There was no rescue for them at the time because those who were coming for the morning shift had yet to arrive”

“It was carbon-monoxide gas that leaked and killed them.

“There was no rescue for them at the time because those who were coming for the morning shift had yet to arrive.

“It is sad to lose 37 miners who were struggling to make ends meet. We’re disturbed by the incident.”

*** Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***