Search for gold turns sour as 2 lose their lives

At least two miners died when the walls of a gold mine collapsed in Nyatike, Migori.

Four other people were rescued and taken to hospital in critical condition. The incident took place on Thursday afternoon as a group of miners ran about 200 meters away to extract ore, police said.

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Witnesses said six miners were in the tunnel when the wall collapsed, killing two instantly. The deceased were identified as Kennedy Kapis, 45, and Jared Aloo, 35.

This happened one day after a miner died when a gold mine fell on him in Lirhembe town, Ikolomani, Kakamega. One person was injured and taken to hospital in critical condition following the incident on Wednesday evening, police said.

The victims were part of a group of gold miners in the gold mine when the wall collapsed, trapping them. The miners were about 200 meters into the tunnel when the incident happened, other victims said.

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The incident comes a few weeks after at least three gold miners died after colliding with an underground mine wall in Manyata and Vihiga towns. The police said that two other people were injured during the incident. They were brought out alive and taken to hospital. Another miner died a week ago at a gold mine in West Pokot.

However, government officials say the tunnels the miners are entering are not safe for their work. Officials said the miners used heavy machinery to crush the rocks as part of their craft, ignoring the environmental impact.