One gold miner dies, six still trapped in Bondo

Two out of the eight people that were trapped at Abimbo goldmines in South Sakwa ward Bondo sub county have been evacuated.

Bondo Deputy County Commissioner Richard Karani confirmed that one person was rescued alive, while the other was found dead and the body taken to Bondo hospital mortuary.

The miner who was found alive has been treated and released.

The two were evacuated from the mine early Friday morning following rescue mission.

The Deputy county commissioner called for calm saying they are still hopeful of getting the remaining six miners alive.

Siaya Senator James Orengo who visited the scene assured gold miners in that their mines will not be closed.

Orengo said that miners have no alternative source of livelihood and the closure of the mines will be counterproductive.

He observed the need to improve emergency response services by the National Disaster response team to avert future loss of life at the mine sites.

"Instead of closing the mines we need to improve our disaster response system so that people can be rescued in case of accidents," he said.

"We also ask the government to consider the possibility of reinforcing the walls of mining holes so that they do not collapse while miners are working."

In 2018, the government closed a mine in central Sakwa ward after three people, including a student died in the mines following collapse of mine wall.