Narok County Police Commander Patrick Lobolia said rescue operations were continuing to reach additional miners believed to be trapped underground after the tunnel collapsed following heavy rainfall, News.Az reports, citing Xinhua.
“Rescue teams are at the scene to assist in the rescue of more people believed to be trapped,” Lobolia said.
He said search and rescue efforts were ongoing in the Kilimapesa area but were progressing slowly due to a shortage of specialized underground mining equipment.
***
“The operation is moving slowly due to a lack of specialized underground search equipment and cameras,” Lobolia said.
Several survivors have been rescued from the site and taken to nearby health facilities for treatment, he added.
Kilimapesa, located about 180 kilometers south of Narok Town, is home to Kenya’s largest commercial gold mining operation.
The latest accident has renewed concerns over safety in Kenya’s gold mining sector, which has experienced a series of fatal incidents in recent years.
The recurring mine disasters have prompted fresh calls from stakeholders for stricter enforcement of mining safety regulations and standards across the industry.
Gold mining remains a key source of income for thousands of artisanal miners in Kenya, but informal and unregulated operations in gold-rich areas continue to claim lives due to frequent tunnel collapses and hazardous working conditions.
