20 Miners Trapped in Kenya Gold Mine
A gold mine partially collapsed in Western Kenya, trapping around 20 miners. The incident occurred around midnight, with eight miners rescued so far. Despite Kenya's growing mining industry, poor safety measures and organized criminal activity have contributed to such accidents. Legal small-scale mining contributed significantly to the country's economy in 2022. Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities urge the public to stay clear of the unstable area. Similar accidents have occurred in the past due to unsafe mining practices.
In Western Kenya, a gold mine partially collapsed, trapping dozens of miners, police reported on Tuesday. Although Kenya's mining industry is smaller compared to neighboring countries, it has seen rapid growth in recent years. However, miners often face poor safety measures and deal with organized criminal groups, leading to such accidents, according to authorities.
County Police Commander Daniel Makumba told AFP, "We have information that around 20 miners were inside when the mine collapsed, and eight have been rescued." Rescue operations are still ongoing. He also urged people to stay away from the area to avoid further danger due to the instability of the region.
The incident occurred around midnight on Monday. According to a report published by the Africa Institute for Security Studies, legal small-scale mining contributed $224 million to Kenya's economy in 2022, with about 250,000 people employed in the sector. In May 2024, a similar incident occurred near the Ethiopia border in the Hill area, where a large-scale illegal gold mine collapsed due to heavy rains, killing at least five people. For more updates, visit International News.
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