There was joy and jubilation at Kopuodho gold mines in Rongo after a miner was rescued alive after three days since he was buried underground.
Noah Ogweno was rescued on Sunday, three days after the Thursday noon tragedy. He was trapped after the walls of the golf mine collapsed.
Joint efforts by colleagues and local leaders led by area MP Paul Abuor who donated an excavator bore fruit at the end. That was after three night vigils.
“We thank the excavator operators and other rescuers who worked day and night. I also wish to thank all those who offered us support throughout this operation to save Noah’s life,” Abuor said yesterday.
Ogweno was rescued and rushed to Tabaka Mission Hospital in Kisii county.
Jacob Migoga who is a gold miner in Rongo asked the government to support small-scale gold miners by making the working environments safe.
Migori Governor Okoth Obado said the county government swiftly moved into action to save Ogweno after receiving news about the tragedy.
“We prayed that our equipment gets access to the main tunnel where he was trapped. We were very optimistic and upbeat that we could find him alive because he was communicating with us,” Obado said.
The governor said they asked for reinforcement to help break hard rocks which barred the excavator.
He asked stakeholders to come to the aid of miners, saying the sector ought to be supported.
