An explosion at a Kabobo gold mine left one miner dead and seven hospitalised.
Survivors say a neighbouring mining team detonated explosives without warning while more than 100 people worked underground in Kabobo.
A Migori mine explosion has left one miner dead and seven others hospitalised in Kabobo. Survivors said a neighbouring mining team carried out a blast while they worked in another underground section.
One injured miner reportedly died on the way to hospital, while seven others were admitted for treatment. The affected workers alleged that a Chinese mining team detonated the explosives without warning them beforehand.
Miners recount Migori mine explosion
Survivors said falling rocks left them little time to reach safety after the blast. Because they were far from the mine entrance, they struggled to evacuate before debris struck them.
The workers said more than 100 people were underground at the time. However, those working in sections farther from the explosion escaped the effects of the blast.
A hospital representative confirmed that the facility received injured miners following a reported collapse at a mining site. Patients had arm and chest injuries, cracked ribs, soft tissue damage and other minor injuries.
Some patients also required continued medical attention. The workers’ accounts described the difficulty of escaping from deep underground as rocks fell around them.
Workers seek stronger mining oversight
The affected miners alleged that operators had previously carried out similar blasts without adequate warning. They said they had raised concerns with the neighbouring operators, but the problem persisted.
Workers also questioned the boundaries between the mining operations. They claimed the Chinese team was excavating towards an area that would eventually interfere with their underground work.
Some miners said they had worked at the site for nearly four years. They urged the government to strengthen oversight and ensure operators communicate before carrying out dangerous activities.
Meanwhile, the explosion follows another mining accident in Migori County on September 25. Several houses reportedly sank into underground shafts at Osiri-Matanda gold-mining village in Nyatike, leaving two women feared trapped.
