Two die on the spot after famous Migori goldmine collapses

The area chief Mr David Oula said the two miners identified as Shadrack Otieno aged 27 years, and Peter Chacha aged 35 years died on the spot, while two others survived and are currently receiving treatment at Migori Level  Four hospital.

Mr Oula said 11 miners were inside the mine when the mining shaft collapsed. He added that seven of the miners who were prospecting gold escaped without any injuries.

“The miners who were eleven in number were inside the mine prospecting gold when the wall of the mine collapsed. When it collapsed, it killed two people on the spot and injured two people,” he said.

The area chief said they are yet to establish what led to the collapse of the wall of the mine adding that the investigation is underway.

The bodies of the two miners who died inside the mines have been moved to Migori Level Four hospital mortuary.

Meanwhile Mr Oula has appealed to miners to be cautious when prospecting gold to avert such cases of fatal accidents at the mines.

The death of the two miners comes amid concern over rising cases of accidents at the goldmine. A month ago, a miner aged 25 years was rescued after getting trapped inside the mining shaft at Kopuodho goldmine in Rongo Sub County for three day.

Migori county artisanal miners chairman Mr Kephas Ojuka said there is need for more training on safety for miners to avert cases of deaths at the mines. Mr Ojuka said there is also need for the government to support the miners with necessary protective gears.

In a recent interview, mining engineers of Kenya chairman Mr Joseph Komu asked the government to formalize artisanal mining in the country.

Mr Komu said artisanal mining is recognized in the Mining Act 2016 unfortunately the government has been very slow in implementing this Act.

He said the artisanal miners should be licensed so that their activities are recognized; adding that the mining committee at the county level charged with the responsibility should expeditiously help in the licensing of the artisanal miners.

Mining engineers of Kenya chairman said a lot of challenges facing the mining sector could be solved by formalization of the sector.

Mr Komu also wants the government to help in training the artisanal miners on safety and building of the mining shafts to avert cases of accidents which have been witnessed in mines across the county.