A tragic accident at the Lumba gold mine in North Ramba, Rarieda sub-county, Siaya County has claimed the lives of five female artisanal miners. The incident occurred on Monday, March 3, when a group of six women entered a mining tunnel in search of gold, only for the tunnel walls to suddenly collapse around 3:00 p.m.
Incident Details and Rescue Efforts
Eyewitnesses report that the collapse happened without warning, trapping the miners underground. Local residents immediately initiated rescue efforts, and after approximately three hours of intensive work, the bodies of five women were recovered. One woman remains missing, and rescue teams continue to search for her.
Siaya County Police Commander Mrs. Serah Koki confirmed the tragic event, stating that police and National Government Administration officers are on the ground coordinating the rescue operations and investigating the cause of the collapse. The recovered bodies have been transported to the Bondo sub-county hospital mortuary, where post-mortem examinations are scheduled to determine the precise cause of death.
Safety Concerns and Previous Incidents
This fatal incident has raised serious concerns about safety practices at local gold mines. Reports suggest that the miners were using heavy equipment to excavate the gold, which may have weakened the structural integrity of the tunnel walls. This collapse comes just a week after a similar accident in Rera village, Gem Wagai sub-county, where three artisanal miners lost their lives.
Local authorities are urging for stricter safety measures and better enforcement of regulations to protect artisanal miners. Community leaders and government officials are calling on the relevant authorities to review current practices and implement necessary improvements to prevent future tragedies.
