A female miner tragically lost her life when the walls of a gold mining site collapsed in Ndori, Rarieda, Siaya County.
The victim, identified as Jackline Okola, was among a group of miners working at the site when the incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, according to local police and witnesses.
While five other miners were able to escape with minor injuries and attempted to rescue her, their efforts were unsuccessful.
The accident took place in the North Ramba sub-location, and authorities later recovered Okola’s body from the debris, which was subsequently taken to Lwak Mission Hospital Mortuary for an autopsy.
Reports indicated that her body bore facial bruises and a swollen right knee.
Many miners in the area operate without proper protective gear, which increases the risk of casualties.
Other miners reported that the group was approximately 200 feet deep in the tunnel at the time of the collapse.
This incident follows a similar tragedy earlier this year, where at least three miners died in Manyatta village, Vihiga, after an underground mine’s walls gave way.
In that case, two individuals were rescued with injuries and taken to the hospital.
Local officials have warned that the tunnels miners use are unsafe.
Many of these miners work in artisanal operations, often employing heavy machinery to crush stones, which exacerbates the risks and neglects environmental concerns.
In response to these ongoing issues, government officials have ordered miners to halt operations so that the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) can conduct an environmental impact assessment.
This assessment will provide necessary ecological guidelines before mining can resume.
Miners have also been instructed to obtain proper licenses from relevant authorities and refrain from using heavy machinery, as these tools compromise site stability and safety.
Efforts are underway to regulate mining activities in the region, aiming to enhance safety practices among the small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in gold mining.
