A gold mine collapsed at Rumos Hills in West Pokot County, and the death toll has now risen to 15 people. Among the dead, ten are women.
The incident happened while miners were carrying out informal gold digging. A huge stone fell onto the section where they were working, and that caused the mine to collapse and trap many of them inside.
Rescue operations are still going on. Lopet Chief Isaac Lomwai said they are continuing with efforts to save those who may still be trapped. “A stone fell on the section they were working on before collapsing the mine, leaving them trapped,” he explained.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, at least six people have been rescued alive so far. They were rushed to hospital for treatment. But there are fears that more miners could still be buried underground.
The rescue teams include Kenya Red Cross personnel, local authorities, police officers, and community members. They have been working through the debris since the incident occurred. Reports say that sounds have been heard from beneath the collapsed site, and this has raised hopes that some victims may still be alive.
More than 12 people have been reported injured. Three of them are in critical condition and were taken to Kapenguria Referral Hospital for special treatment.
Doctor Caren Cheyech from Kapenguria Hospital said the facility has received several victims. “We have received about six patients, and two of them have serious injuries and have been taken for surgery. We are closely monitoring them and providing the necessary medical assistance,” she said.
This tragedy comes just days after West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin raised concerns about the rising cases of illegal and unsafe mining activities in the region. So far, the exact number of people trapped under the mine is still unknown. Reports indicate that most of the miners were not licensed.
West Pokot has seen repeated mine collapse tragedies in recent years. Many residents depend on artisanal mining for their daily living. In October last year, four people including a 14-year-old died after a gold mine collapsed in the Kampi Karayi area. Earlier in June that same year, another mine caved in Turkwel, West Pokot, killing four people and injuring several others.
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