Police in Rwanda are searching for three individuals who have been trapped in an abandoned mining pit in the Ruhango district for over a week. According to reports, the individuals entered one of the tunnels of the Big Mining company located in the Byimana sector of Ruhango district on October 24, 2026. The search efforts began on October 30, 2026, after the families of the missing individuals reported them missing.
The search efforts are being led by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) and the police. According to the Byimana sector executive, Jeanne d'Arc Umwiza, the individuals had agreed to pay 10,000 Rwandan francs to a guard who was supposed to be monitoring the tunnel. The guard, who has been arrested, reported the incident after realizing that the individuals had not come out of the tunnel.
The authorities are still unsure of the identities of the trapped individuals and whether they were employees of the Big Mining company or artisanal miners. The tunnel has not been excavated, and the authorities are still trying to determine the cause of the incident. The sector executive stated that the authorities are working to determine why the incident was not reported earlier, despite several people being aware of it.
The search efforts have been challenging due to the presence of gases in the tunnel. The authorities have stated that they are working to acquire specialized equipment to facilitate the search. The sector executive appealed to the public to avoid engaging in unauthorized mining activities, citing the risks associated with such activities.
The Big Mining company has been operating in the area, but the tunnel where the incident occurred was not in use. The authorities are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The families of the missing individuals are anxiously waiting for the search efforts to yield results.
The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) is leading the investigation into the incident. According to the sector executive, the RIB will release a statement once the investigation is complete. The authorities are working to rescue the trapped individuals, and there is hope that they will be found alive.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of mining activities in the area. The authorities are urging the public to exercise caution when engaging in mining activities. The search efforts are ongoing, and the authorities are working to determine the cause of the incident and rescue the trapped individuals.
Key points
- The search efforts are being led by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) and the police.
- The authorities are still unsure of the identities of the trapped individuals.
- The incident has raised concerns about the safety of mining activities in the area.
