Gold digger dead, five rescued after mine collapsed in Siaya

A gold digger died while five others were rescued after a mining shaft collapsed at Rarieda Uyore village in Alego-Usonga, Siaya County, on Monday night.

The miner was together with his six other colleagues during their routine mining expedition when the shaft collapsed and buried them alive at around midnight.

According to Siaya Sub-County Police Commander, Benedict Mwangangi, the five were immediately rescued and rushed to Siaya County Referral Hospital where three were treated and discharged.

He stated two of the miners who were rescued are still undergoing treatment at the same facility, noting however that they are now in a stable condition.

The body of the miner who died has since been retrieved and taken to Siaya County Referral Hospital mortuary to await post-mortem.

Mwangangi said investigations are underway to establish whether the gold mine was operating legally.

He at the same time issued a stern warning to artisanal gold diggers not only at Rarieda Uyore village but across Siaya County to desist from entering into the mining shafts, especially during the night.