A somber mood engulfed Uradi Village, Siaya county yesterday after a 32-year-old woman died after a gold mining shaft caved in and covered her alive.
According to the area Assistant Chief Grace Otieno, the woman who has been identified as Rosemary Anyango was together with four others when she met her death.
The Chief said that the women were in their routine mining activities when the shaft caved in, and four of them managed to escape with minor injuries. Rosemary was trapped as she was at the deepest end of the shaft.
She told local media that during the incident, 20-year-old man Brandon Omondi also sustained injuries while trying to enter the collapsed shaft to save the woman who had been covered alive.
“The deceased was with four others who managed to escape with injuries. Brandon tried saving the deceased but it was in vain and he sustained injuries too.” She explained.
The administrator stated that the shaft continued to cave in and injured Brandon on his lower limbs before he was rushed to Siaya County referral hospital where he was treated and discharged.
While confirming the incident, the Assistant Chief stated that the woman’s body was later retrieved and taken to Siaya County referral hospital mortuary for preservation awaiting postmortem.
She took the opportunity to caution the artisanal gold miners against conducting their operations during rainy seasons as the mining shafts have weakened.
“Let everyone be informed that it is risky to get into the shafts during the rainy seasons. They become weak, hence the collapses experienced.” She warned.
