Six buried alive in Migori mine

Macalder Mines in Migori where six people were buried alive on May 8, 2018. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The victims were buried alive in Macalder Mines in Nyatike sub-county, located 40 kilometres from Migori Town.

  • Police from Nyatike, who rushed to the scene, were unable to evacuate the victims due to lack of relevant equipment.

Hopelessness among onlookers is evident at the Nyatike mine that collapsed on Tuesday as rescuers lack proper equipment to excavate

At least six people are feared dead in a gold mine in Migori County after a tunnel collapsed.

The victims were buried alive in Macalder Mines in Nyatike sub-county, located 40 kilometres from Migori Town.

The victims were in the deep tunnels when the soil caved in due to the heavy rains currently pounding the region.

“It is true that at least six people are trapped in the mines. We are looking for excavators to remove heaps of soil," said Mr Apollo Ogutu, the Nyatike sub county administrator.

WEAKENED WALLS

He said the heavy rains might have weakened the walls of the tunnels. Police from Nyatike, who rushed to the scene, were unable to evacuate the victims due to lack of relevant equipment.

The miners usually go more than 100 feet down to look for gold. Mines in Nyatike have claimed many lives every year but that has not deterred the residents from looking for gold.

But some gold miners in the region have quit the trade due to the increasing number of deaths in the tunnels.

TRAGEDIES

The miners are worried by the tragedies that usually occur in the mines in Nyatike

“I have decided to do farming after losing my close friends with whom we were doing gold mining. I will only return after the government introduces safe mining methods,” said Mr Eric Onyango.

Mr Titus Otieno is now doing a taxi business in Migori Town.

"Besides the lingering deaths, the return is meagre due to exploitation by middlemen,” said Mr Otieno.