One killed, 5 others injured as gold mine collapses in Siaya

A miner died while five of his colleagues were injured after a mine they were working on collapsed in Central Alego location, Siaya County in the wee hours of Tuesday.

According to Siaya Sub County Police Commander Benedict Mwangangi, the deceased was part of a team that was working at night in a gold mine opposite Rarieda Uyore primary school in Kakumu Kombewa sub-location.

The police boss said that miners were buried shortly after midnight but quick efforts by their colleagues who were outside, helped remove the debris and rescue the survivors. 

They were taken to Siaya County Referral Hospital for treatment.

 “Five of the miners were rescued alive and rushed to Siaya County Referral Hospital,” said Mwangangi, adding that three of them were treated and discharged while two were admitted but in stable condition.

Mwangangi said that the body of 46-year-old George Odhiambo Okoth was moved to the Siaya County Referral Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.

The Police Commander further stated that detectives have since launched investigations into the incident, adding that they would like to establish whether the mine was licensed and why the miners were undertaking their activities at night.