Sana'a: A farmer and his son died today in Ans District, Dhamar Governorate, due to asphyxiation inside a hand-dug well in the village of Dhi Shaniyah, Wadi Al-Har area.
According to Yemen News Agency, residents of the area explained that the accident occurred when the farmer, Abduljalil Al-Haidamah, aged 46, descended into his hand-dug well to inspect and repair the "paddles." While at the bottom, he felt dizzy, began to suffocate, and called for help from his 20-year-old son, Qanaf, who was at the top of the well. The son rushed to get help and bring a rope, but the delay in assistance prompted the father to attempt climbing out on his own. Unfortunately, he lost consciousness and fell into the water.
Seeing his father in distress, the son quickly descended into the well to save him. Upon reaching the bottom, he too experienced suffocation and dizziness, and collapsed beside his father. Attempts by residents to rescue them were hindered by the lack of oxygen and depth of the well, which caused rescuers to also suffer from suffocation.
The villagers recounted that rescue efforts extended for hours. Each attempt involved tying a person with a rope, but they would feel suffocated midway down the well. Eventually, a young man managed to reach the bottom, secure the bodies of the father and son, and they were pulled out, but unfortunately, both had already died.
Residents expressed concerns over the recurring nature of asphyxiation accidents in hand-dug wells, attributing them to the sulfurous nature of the water and the absence of necessary safety measures such as ventilation and gas measurement.
The local authority has urged citizens to exercise extreme caution and advised against descending into deep and enclosed wells without following safety procedures. They also recommended seeking assistance from specialized authorities in such situations.