A goldmine caved in on Thursday, February 9th, burying 15 young men in Sigalagala Village in Kakamega County.
Rescue Operations Underway
The National Police Service (NPS) and emergency response teams from the county, Red Cross and locals are on the scene helping with the rescue mission.
Eight people have been rescued and are in stable condition, while 7 others are still trapped.
Rescue operations are currently underway to save the lives of the trapped miners.
Survivors Being Treated
Survivors of the mine collapse were seen being pulled up from the mine by rescuers while being taken to receive treatment.
Economic Activity in Kakamega County
Gold mining is one of the economic activities in Kakamega County.
Poor Working Conditions
Miners have on several occasions been called upon by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) not to expose themselves to health risks due to their poor working conditions.
This is due to their failure to use safety gear such as earplugs, safety glasses, masks, gloves, and gumboots when extracting gold.
Previous Accidents
In 2021, a family in Siaya County spent Christmas at a gold mine site after one of their kinsmen was buried under the rubble in South Sakwa on December 2, 2021.
The miner’s body was buried under the debris, 25 days after the accident.
