Two people died after the walls of a gold mine they were working in collapsed on Wednesday afternoon in Kidivo village in Vihiga county.
Four others were injured and are receiving treatment at the County Referral Hospital in Mbale.
The deceased were identified as Vitalis Keya, 18, and Jackson Ombuya, 34.
Lyaduywa South chief Aggrey Mudaki said the gold mine walls caved in at around 3pm.
He said the collapse may have been caused by the ongoing rains in the area.
“We have been experiencing heavy rains in the past one week, and that might be the reason the collapse occurred,” Mudaki said.
About 10 miners were working in the mine when the incident occurred.
Colleagues and villagers tried to rescue the two, but when they reached them, it was too late.
"Those on the ground moved faster with the help of other villagers but unfortunately the two died from suffocation," the chief said.
The bodies were taken County Referral Hospital mortuary in Mbale town.
Mudaki urged miners to acquire the right equipment to avoid more deaths.
"If we want to save our people, let them enter into partnerships with contractors who have modern mining machines and are willing to share profits from the mines," he said.
Edited by A.N
