A tragic incident occurred in Migori County, Kenya, where four individuals lost their lives due to suffocation in a gold mining shaft. The incident took place at Ntunyigi in Kuria West, and the victims were identified as David Kinono Munanka, Ian Gati Mwita, Samson Nyangige, and Peter, aged 23. According to police reports, the miners entered the underground shaft at around 7 am on September 26, but failed to return, prompting Munanka, the site owner, to investigate.
The rescue operation was launched after a police team arrived at the scene and, with the help of local residents, managed to pump oxygen into the shaft using a large compressor. This enabled rescuers to enter the mine and retrieve the bodies of the four victims. The incident has raised concerns about the safety standards in Migori's gold-mining areas, where artisanal miners often work in challenging conditions without adequate safety measures.
This is not an isolated incident, as just a day prior, two women, Phylis Awino and Millicent Atieno, died when a mining shaft collapsed at Osiri-Matanda in Nyatike Sub-County. The collapse occurred on Friday morning, and their bodies were recovered on Saturday during a joint search and rescue operation involving national and county governments.
The deaths have highlighted the risks associated with unregulated mining in the county, where gold deposits have attracted numerous artisanal miners. Local residents have expressed concerns about miners digging tunnels beneath or close to residential areas and leaving some underground workings unattended, which exposes miners and neighboring communities to risks of shaft collapses and other accidents.
Elly Duro, the artisanal mining chairman, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and praised the rescuers and volunteers who worked to retrieve the bodies. He also commended the Migori County Government, led by Governor Dr. Ochilo Ayacko, for responding to the incident and providing machinery to support the recovery operation.
The governor visited the scene to assess the situation, and a community member thanked the county leadership for its intervention. The incident has renewed concerns over safety standards in Migori's gold-mining areas, and it is expected that post-mortem examinations will be conducted to establish the exact cause of death.
The tragedy has sparked discussions about the need for improved safety measures and regulations in the artisanal mining sector. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks faced by miners in the area and the importance of prioritizing their safety and well-being.
Key points
- Four people died due to suffocation in a gold mining shaft at Ntunyigi in Kuria West, Migori County.
- The incident has highlighted concerns about safety standards in Migori's gold-mining areas, where artisanal miners often work in challenging conditions.
- This is not an isolated incident, as two women died in a mining shaft collapse just a day prior.
