Eight people trapped in collapsed gold mine

Eight people are trapped while two others escaped with minor injuries after a gold mining shaft collapsed on them at Abimbo area in Bondo sub-county this afternoon.

The artisanal gold miners had gone to their routine mining expedition when the walls of the shaft crumbled on them.

According to the area site manager David Orido, the shaft caved in after the reinforcement on its walls collapsed.

He stated that the miners were ten at the time of the incident but two managed to find their way out of the shaft leaving behind the eight who are still trapped.

Orido who is optimistic that the eight will be rescued while still alive, stated that they have already made arrangements to excavate the soli that is blocking the entrance of the shaft to enable them rescued the colleagues.

Bondo Deputy County Commissioner Richard Karani, who visited the confirmed the incident, said that they are already in touch with the relevant authorities to find a way of safely rescuing the miners.

He added that the two miners who managed to find their way out of the shaft escaped with minor injuries and have since been treated at a local health center and discharged.

The rescue mission is still underway and the DCC has cautioned the miners against working in unlicensed mining sites to avert such incident.