Two killed, seven injured as goldmine collapses in Nyatike

Two people have killed and seven others have sustained serious injuries following a landslide that took place in Nyatike Constituency, Migori County on Wednesday.

Area police boss, Dishon Chebaka, confirmed the incident, adding that the victims were mining gold in the area as usual when the landslide occurred late Wednesday night.

The landslide left two brothers, Peter Ouma Otieno and Fredrick Ouma Otieno, dead.

Chebaka said the police, in collaboration with the community, managed to recover the body the late Peter Ouma. His brother’s body is, however, yet to be retrieved from the mine.

Rescue efforts are still underway, and seven people have been rescued so far.

The seven have been rushed to Migori Level Four Hospital where they are nursing injuries, while the recovered body has been taken to the hospital’s mortuary.

The police boss urged residents to be cautious as they carry out mining activities. He also advised mineworkers to avoid mines in the rainy season as chances of landslides are high.

This is not the first time that tragedy has stuck Nyatike Mines. Barely three months ago, two men died of carbon monoxide poisoning at the same location.

The two, aged 23 and 24 years, suffocated when they tried to pump out water from the mine using a petrol-powered generator.

It was, however, reported that the two died after they were overpowered by the gas which was leaking from the generator.

In a similar incident, a woman was buried alive in a sunken gold mine in Ruga area of Homabay County.

The gold mine was reported to have collapsed following the heavy rains.