15 dead, several injured after gold mine collapse in West Pokot
15 dead, several injured after gold mine collapse in West Pokot
The death toll following the collapse of a gold mine at Rumos Hills in West Pokot County has risen to 15, among them 10 women, as rescue operations continue at the scene.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, at least six people have so far been rescued alive and rushed to the hospital for treatment, while fears remain that more miners could still be trapped underground.
The victims were reportedly buried alive after a huge stone fell onto the section where they were carrying out informal gold mining activities before the mine collapsed.
“We are continuing with the rescue operations. A stone fell on the section they were working on before collapsing the mine, leaving them trapped,” said Lopet Chief Isaac Lomwai.
Emergency response teams, including Kenya Red Cross personnel, local authorities and police, and community members, have been working through the debris in search of survivors since the incident occurred.
The Kenya Red Cross confirmed that rescue operations were still ongoing, with reports indicating that sounds had been heard from beneath the collapsed site, raising hopes that some victims may still be alive.
So far, over 12 people have been reported injured in the incident, with three said to be in critical condition and referred to Kapenguria Referral Hospital for specialised treatment.
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Kapenguria Hospital doctor Caren Cheyech said the facility had received several victims from the scene and was closely monitoring those with severe injuries.
“We have received about six patients, and two of them have serious injuries and have been taken for surgery. We are closely monitoring them and providing the necessary medical assistance,” she said.
The tragedy comes only days after West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin raised concerns over the growing cases of illegal and unsafe mining activities in the region.
Even so, the exact number of people trapped under the mines is yet to be established, with reports indicating that they were largely unlicensed.
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