5 people lost their lives as 8 others suffered injuries after a gold mine collapsed at Buhshiangala, Ikolomani in Kakamega county on the evening of 6th May 2021.

Kakamega South police boss Joseph Cheshire confirmed the incident that occurred at 7:00 pm. According to his statement, 8 people were injured and were rushed to Shibwe Level 4 Hospital, and 2 of them are in critical condition.

 Rescue operations at the goldmine that collapsed in Kakamega PHOTO/COURTESY

Bodies of the 2 deceased individuals were retrieved and taken to Kakamega County General Hospital mortuary.

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Reports indicate that around 30 individuals were inside the mine that is approximately 100 feet deep when it partially collapsed and trapped some of them under the sand at the time of the accident.

Mining activities in the entire county were stopped forthwith after the accident, following heavy downpours that render the soil wet and loose.

The local community asked the county government to provide modern mining equipment for the youth for their mining work.

 The goldmine that collapsed in Kakamega. PHOTO/COURTESY.

The Kakamega County Governor Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya conveyed his condolences to the bereaved and offered the county government’s support to the bereaved and the injured.