Two miners die as goldmine turns death trap

By NICK OLUOCH

Migori, Kenya: Disaster struck Osiri goldmine in Nyatike, Migori County after two men died after inhaling carbon monoxide while working at the mines.

The two, aged 23 and 24 years, suffocated on Wednesday evening when they tried to pump out water from the mine using a petrol-powered generator.

Nyatike OCPD Richard Mukwate said one of the miners had entered the mine to pump out water before they could start mining. He was however, overpowered by the gas, which had been leaking from the generator.

“His friend who had been waiting outside then rushed in to try and help him. The second man was also overpowered by the gas,” Mr Mukwate said.

He said the other miners who were outside were unable to help the two fearing that they would also fall victim of the gas.

Police were called to the mine and pumped oxygen into the mine before retrieving the two bodies and moved them to Migori Level Four hospital for post-mortem.

Mukwate cautioned miners against using generators to pump water from the mines saying it was posing serious risk to their health.

Generators

“We have been warning the miners of the dangers for some time but it is sad that many of them still ignore the warnings and get into the mines with the generators,” he said.

He has also warned the miners to avoid the mines during the rainy season as chances of the mines collapsing were very high.

Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga called on the Government to improve the conditions in the mines by offering the miners with alternative water pumping systems to reduce deaths.

“We do not want to continue losing people. Mining has to be made safe because it is  the only viable economic activity in our region,” Mr Anyanga said.