At least 12 miners were last evening trapped after a gold mine collapsed at Sigalagala mining shaft in Ikolomani, Kakamega County.A total of 20 workers were at the mine when it caved in.
Eight of the trapped miners have been rescued while 4 others are still trapped underground with rescue operation going on.
Patrick Mukhule, the Kakamega Mining Resilient Team chairman said the tragedy occurred at 1am and the rescue mission commenced immediately.
“A team of 10 youth immediately swung into action because they understand how the shafts are constructed. They managed to bring out the 8 who have been rescued,” said Mr Mukhule.
“A rescue operation is underway to retrieve the remaining miners. But the rescuers are exercise alot of caution before of the delicate soil,” said Mr Mukhule.
Kakamega has one of the largest mining activities in Western Kenya region.
However, mines are considered extremely dangerous. Miners die frequently due to poor safety precautions and a lack of supervision.
No end in sight
Despite increased miner safety and media coverage of major incidents, fatal incidents continue to occur.
Last November, two miners died after they were stranded following the collapse of a gold mine a few meters away.
This was followed by another tragedy in December when a young man of 18 years died in another mine, 18 others were rescued.
Kakamega County Commissioner Joseph Ondego said the local miners understand better the topography of the mine shafts and are handy in the rescue mission.
Oxygen was pumped into the shafts to help the trapped victims from suffocation.
Mr Ondego said it was difficult for soil excavator machines to access the accident scene due to lack of proper road network.
“The soil around this area has been exhausted by the mining activities and houses have been constructed closely along the paths leading to the mining centres. We fear that the excavator could break the soil and bring up more tragedies,” said Mr Ondego.
The Commissioner has banned mining in the night within the county.
A survivor, Geoffrey Likono, 26, said he stayed in the caved mine for 6 hours before he was rescued.
“We started the mining mission at 12pm when we entered the mines. A few minutes later, it started collapsing. Those who had not gone deep in the shafts managed to escape, but the 12 of us got trapped inside after the soil closed the passage,” he said.
“I thank God that I have come out alive. Those in the lowest shafts are still trapped,” he added.
He blamed the tragedy on one of the miners whom he claimed had interfered with the soil by chopping part of it earlier in day.
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