Narok (Kenya), July 22 (IANS) At least five miners were killed after a gold mine collapsed in Narok County in southwestern Kenya, local authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
Narok County Police Commander Patrick Lobolia said rescue operations were continuing to save additional miners believed to be trapped underground after the tunnel collapsed following heavy rains.
“Rescue teams are at the scene to assist in the rescue of more people believed to be trapped,” Loboria told Xinhua news agency by phone.
Loboria said search and rescue efforts remained underway in the Kilimapesa area, but progress had been hampered by a shortage of specialized mining equipment.
“The operation is moving slowly due to a lack of specialised underground search equipment and cameras,” he said.
Loboria added that several survivors had been rescued from the site and taken to nearby health facilities for medical treatment.
Kilimapesa, located about 180 km south of Narok Town, is home to Kenya’s largest commercial gold mining operation.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over safety in Kenya’s gold mining sector, which has been plagued by fatal accidents in recent years.
The recurring tragedies have prompted renewed calls from stakeholders for stricter enforcement of safety regulations and standards across the industry.
Gold mining is a primary source of livelihood for thousands of artisanal miners across Kenya. However, informal and unregulated operations in gold-rich regions have claimed dozens of lives due to frequent mine collapses and hazardous working conditions.
Earlier this month, at least 15 people were killed and one other was injured after a traditional gold mine collapsed in the Wadi Halfa area of northern Sudan, the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company reported.
The company, a government body overseeing mining activities, said in a statement that the accident occurred after miners entered a site that had previously been closed by authorities because it was deemed unsafe.
Rescue teams were deployed to the site, with Civil Defence teams continuing to search for possible remaining victims, it said.
A local eyewitness told Xinhua that the collapse was so “extensive” that rescuers could not reach those trapped inside for some time.
Miners had ignored repeated warnings to stay out of the closed mine, the eyewitness said.
Traditional mining is a major contributor to Sudan’s gold production, but has long been plagued by accidents due to poor safety measures and deteriorating infrastructure.
Sudan has relied heavily on gold as a key source of foreign currency since 2011. The mining sector accounts for about 40 per cent of exports, though activity has declined amid the war that began in April 2023.
–IANS
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