At least six people lost their lives on Monday night when an illegal gold mine tunnel in Dabel, Marsabit County, collapsed, trapping miners under rubble.
Ten other miners were hospitalized, and authorities fear more victims may still be trapped beneath the debris.
The incident occurred at the Hillo Gold Mine, which had been shut down by the government due to safety and security concerns.
According to police, the deceased and injured miners had illegally entered the site, which had previously been declared hazardous.
The area had been plagued by criminal activity, including drug trafficking and gang rivalries among illegal miners, resulting in several deaths earlier this week.
Police noted that the goldmine had been identified as a dangerous site, with authorities taking action after reports of violence, including rape and gender-based violence.
Most of the mining operations in the area are considered unsafe.
Authorities were unaware that the victims had ventured into the mine, which collapsed and killed them instantly.
Rescue efforts are still underway to recover any remaining miners and clear the scene, while investigations into the incident continue.
The Hillo Gold Mine was among the sites declared a “disturbed area” in May 2024, with plans to reopen the area before the collapse occurred.
Activities at the mine were illegal, as no official permits had been issued for its operation.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja had previously declared the Hillo Gold Mine site in Marsabit County dangerous and disturbed.
The declaration, made on October 4, 2024, followed consultations with the National Security Council.
The initial warning about the mine’s dangers was issued on September 3, 2024, identifying several sites within the Hillo area as hazardous.
Following this, all residents in the area were ordered to surrender arms to authorities for safekeeping.
The Hillo Gold Mine, located near the Kenya-Ethiopia border, had become a hotspot for illegal mining, attracting many youths seeking to profit from gold scavenging.
However, safety and security concerns led to the government’s closure of the site on March 14, 2024, after violent clashes over mining rights resulted in fatalities.
Despite the official closure, illegal mining activities persisted, culminating in the deadly collapse.
Kindiki had enforced the ban on unlicensed mining to ensure safety and regulate artisanal mining in the area.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, urging miners to avoid dangerous, unregulated sites.
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