Silverio Omari
Five deaths have been reported as rescue operations continue at a collapsed gold mine in Rongo, Migori County. The incident at the Kanga gold mine occurred on Tuesday evening.
According to George Otenga, Deputy County Commissioner for Rongo sub-county, two miners passed away while receiving treatment, while three others were found deceased inside the collapsed mine. Initially, there were 18 miners inside the mine during the collapse, and efforts are ongoing to verify the status of all affected individuals.
Otenga mentioned that some miners managed to escape through alternative routes, and efforts are underway to physically count them to confirm if the remaining 13 miners survived.
Authorities have dispatched personnel to locate all survivors of the collapsed mine. Otenga commended the collaborative effort of stakeholders, which facilitated the rescue operation late into the night. He credited their cooperation for successfully locating miners within the 750-foot deep shaft.
Meanwhile, officials have urged miners to observe necessary precautions during gold prospecting to prevent fatalities and injuries. A survey by Citizen Digital revealed ongoing safety concerns in the gold mining sector in Migori County, with a significant number of miners operating without proper protective equipment.
Dj Vnyash
