Mine worker crushed to death in Paphos

A mine worker from Syria was killed on Monday in Paphos district after a collapsed trench buried him along with his excavator.

According to local reports, a foreign worker had been operating an earthmover at a quarry in Androlykos, Paphos district, when a pit collapsed and a massive rock crushed his excavator.

First responders were called to the scene where the day labourer had been buried in dirt and rushed him to the Emergency Room. Doctors on duty at Paphos General Hospital pronounced the man dead on arrival.

Some media reports said the man, who was approximately 40 years old and a father of two, had been staying permanently in Polis Chrysochous with his family.

Local authorities were said to be investigating the circumstances of the fatal accident, while labour department officials went on-site to carry out an inspection to ascertain whether there had been any safety measure violations.

It was not immediately clear how the accident took place but preliminary reports said the excavator was buried in dirt after a heavy stone fell onto the excavator cabin, crushing the operator to death. Other reports said the man’s death was not instantaneous.