Bomet: Two people dead after quarry caves in, buries them alive

Two people died after the Silibwet quarry in Bomet County caved in, thereby suffocating them to death in a semi-permanent house where they were taking shelter.

According to Bomet central sub-county police boss Musa Omar Imamai, the two men aged 28 and 25 were sheltering after several hours of continuous rain pounded the area for the last two weeks, when the tragedy happened.

Mr. Omar said loose debris from the quarry slid, covering the entire shelter and making it impossible for them to escape.

“Tulisaidiana na raia kutoa hao watu wawili walikuwa wamefunikwa. Tuliwapoteza on the spot kwa sababu wakati ardhi iliteremka, ilienda ikafinyika yote na hakuna vile tungeokoa mtu yeyote,” he said.

Area residents, with the help of a county disaster team, took several hours to retrieve the bodies and moved them to Longisa mortuary.

The police boss urged the county government to take measures and close all the open quarries until the rain subsides.