Four men die in an abandoned gold mine in Homa Bay County

Four men have died in an abandoned gold mine in Homa Bay County while stealing gold.

The four men died in the mine located at Ruga village, Kowidi Location in Rachuonyo South Sub-county on Monday.

It was reported that the four were among five people who sneaked in to dig gold in the quarry.

According to the Chief of Kowidi Location Lucas Juma, the four men entered the mine while the fifth person guarded the entrance.

They reportedly used a rope to descend into the deep mine.

“The men went to the abandoned quarry without any tool. Those who saw them say they only had a rope. Meanwhile, the fifth person stayed at the entrance,” Juma said.

The deaths of the four men were discovered by their colleague.The man reportedly raised an alarm before residents and other miners rushed to scene.

“People came to know of the deaths after their colleague who was waiting for them raised an alarm. He tried using the rope they had used to descend into the quarry and realised that the rope was empty. This raised alarm that something was wrong with his colleagues,” Juma said.

Some miners who had a compressor used it to gain entry into the quarry through assistance of police and residents to rescue the four unfortunately they had passed on.

Homa Bay County Police Commander Hassan Barua said they are yet to identify the deceased men.

“The four men have died but we are yet to establish their identities,” Barua said.

Barua urged residents who want to mine to seek advice of experts to avoid such a tragedy in future.

“Let residents seek advice of experts whenever they want to mine,” he added.

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Director in Homa County Josiah Nyandoro said that  mining site were the accident happened was illegal.

Nyandoro said NEMA and officials from the mines and geology department recently conducted inspections in the county and established that all the gold mining sites were operated illegally.

“Let the operator seek license from the relevant authorities,” Nyandoro said.

The bodies were taken to Rachuonyo South Sub-County Hospital Mortuary in Oyugis Town.