Three bodies retrieved from Meru quarry

Residents at the scene where four quarry workers were buried alive after a wall caved in on them on October 1, 2015. The workers were excavating stones. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • He asked workers to keep off the quarries as El Niño rains start.
  • Efforts to retrieve the body were hampered by heavy rains Thursday evening.

Three bodies were retrieved on Thursday evening from the rubble where four people were buried alive after a quarry caved in on them in Kabauni, South Imenti Sub-County.

South Imenti police boss John Cheruiyot told Nation.co.ke that a fourth body was still trapped in the rubble.

Efforts to retrieve the body were hampered by heavy rains Thursday evening that forced rescue workers to suspend the exercise.

“We were lucky to get equipment to sift through the rubble last evening. The operation will resume today (Friday) now that the rains have subsided,” he said.

Five people were working in the quarry at around 4pm when the incident occurred.

Mr Cheruiyot said strong winds could have uprooted trees at the top of the quarry, and that led to boulders falling and trapping the miners inside.

He asked workers to keep off the quarries as El Niño rains start.

“Those living in areas prone to landslides and mudslides should move to higher and safer grounds,” he said.