Four men killed in a gold quarry

Four men have died in an abandoned gold mine in Homa Bay County when they were stealing an opportunity dig gold without consent of the quarry owner.

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 to dig gold in the quarry.

According to the Chief of Kowidi Location Lucas Juma, the four men entered the mine but their fifth colleague decided to stay at 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 which they used for entry. Meanwhile, the fifth man sat at the entrance,” Juma said.

The deaths of the four men were discovered by their colleague who did not enter the mine. 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 tested using the rope they had used to descend into the quarry and realised that the rope was still. This made him discover something was wrong with his colleagues,” Juma said.

Some minors who had a compressor used it to gain entry into the quarry through assistance of police and residents to rescue the four in cases they were still alive.

However, the rescuers found them dead.

Homa Bay County Police Commander Hassan Barua said they had not identified the deceased men.

Barua said they deceased were known by appearance but their names had not been established.

“The four men have died but we have not established 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 the tragic mining site 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 being 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.