Rain-Soaked Shaft Claims Life as Kakamega Gold Mine Collapses

A gold mine has collapsed in Museno area of Shinyalu constituency in Kakamega County and has left one person dead and five others injured.

This incident occurred when a section of the gold mine collapsed while miners were working inside the shaft.

According to local authorities, several miners were trapped underground after the walls of the mining pit collapsed. This prompted a rescue effort by residents and emergency responders.

The witnesses said the miners had been digging inside the shaft when the ground suddenly collapsed inside and it buried some of them under soil and debris.

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Rescue Efforts Mobilized

Fellow miners and residents rushed to the scene and began digging in a desperate attempt to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble before emergency teams arrived.

Five miners were successfully pulled out of the collapsed pits with injuries and were taken to nearby health facilities for treatment. On the other hand, one miner was later confirmed dead following the incident that took place.

The collapse has been linked to unstable ground conditions due to the ongoing rains being experienced in a lot of places in the country. Heavy rainfall many a times weakens the soil around the mining shafts, increasing the risk of the ground collapsing while miners are inside.

Locals are Advised to Take Safety Precautions

Kakamega County Executive Committee Member for Water and Environment, Penina Mukabane, has urged artisanal miners in the region to observe necessary precautions, especially during this rainy season, because the ground can easily collapse.

She warned that continued mining in unstable conditions could lead to more accidents, injuries and even worse, deaths.

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Mukabane called on miners to prioritize safety and avoid working in poorly supported shafts, noting that most artisanal mines in the region lack proper structural reinforcements.

Gold mining remains a key economic activity in parts of Kakamega County, particularly in Shinyalu and Ikolomani constituencies, where many residents depend on the sector for their livelihoods despite the risks associated with informal mining operations.

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Fellow miners and residents rushed to the scene and began digging in desperate attempt to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble before emergency teams arrived.
PHOTO/The Standard X