Two Young Miners Die from Suffocation in Migori Gold Mine
Suna West Sub-county Police Commander Chrispine Ogutu confirmed that the two young men entered the shaft on Thursday and were later found dead by their colleagues
By : Mweru Mbugua
Two artisanal miners, aged 18 and 20, have tragically died after suffocating inside a gold mining shaft at Masara Gold Mine in Suna West Sub-county, Migori County
Suna West Sub-county Police Commander Chrispine Ogutu confirmed that the two young men entered the shaft on Thursday and were later found dead by their colleagues
Preliminary investigations indicate that the miners accessed the shaft while it still contained toxic gases produced during rock blasting operations carried out on Tuesday
These gases can linger for several days and are highly dangerous, especially in confined underground spaces, as they can lead to suffocation
Commander Ogutu noted that the deceased had previously been warned to stay away from the mine for a specified period to allow the toxic fumes to dissipate, but they ignored the advisory
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The bodies have been retrieved and taken to Migori Referral Hospital mortuary, where they are being preserved pending post-mortem examinations
Commander Ogutu urged artisanal miners in the area to exercise extreme caution while prospecting for gold and to strictly follow safety guidelines to prevent similar tragedies
