This archive report was first published on 30 September 2019.
On September 30, 2019, a devastating mining tunnel collapse occurred in Voi, Taita Taveta County, Kenya, resulting in the deaths of three people and serious injuries to four others.
The incident took place at a mine in Kasigau ward, where artisanal miners were searching for gemstones.
According to eyewitnesses, the miners were deep in the tunnel when the soil caved in on them.
Mr. Julie Chale, an artisanal miner in the area, stated that the workers had blasted the ore on Friday night to loosen the rocks and make it easier to access the minerals.
"The blasts might have weakened the walls of the tunnels," he said.
Rescue operations were led by the police and residents, who used excavators to remove heaps of soil and retrieve the victims from the rubble.
The miners often venture more than 100 feet down in search of precious stones.
Confirming the incident, David Zowe, chairperson of the county artisanal miners, said that rescuers were forced to take the miners to St Joseph Shelter of Hope Hospital due to the ongoing medics strike.
Taita Taveta County is rich in gemstones, including green garnets, red garnets, tourmaline, Tsavorite, and ruby.
The Kasigau mine is at the centre of a dispute between an investor and residents, with hundreds of locals invading the mine after the ranch owners claimed that the investor had not sought consent from them.
