One dead, another missing after ladder collapse at Abimbo Gold Mine

The miner, identified as James Waloga, is said to have reported for routine mining activities at 9.00 a.m. with 13 other colleagues when he died unexpectedly.

According to Mr David Orido, General Secretary of the Abimbo Mining Site, the miners were climbing down the mine shaft when a ladder they were using broke, causing them to fall deep into the shaft.

He stated that during the incident, the other colleagues who were still outside attempted to rescue them and were only able to save 12 of the miners because James Waloga and his other colleague remained in the shaft, which is currently filled with water.

The Secretary told Radio Ramogi that they attempted to locate the two and were able to rescue Waloga while he was still alive before rushing him to Bondo sub-county hospital, where he was pronounced dead. However, a search for the other colleague who remained inside the shaft is still underway.

While confirming the incident, the General Secretary revealed that one mining shaft typically accommodates up to 14 miners, who always descend in shifts.

He added that the two were among those who were down when the ladder broke, causing the accident.

The accident occurred exactly three years after a gold mine collapsed on the same site, killing two miners, including Tom Okwach, whose body was searched underground for more than six months in 2021.