The search for an artisanal miner in Lumba Village Gold Mine, situated in Rarieda sub-county, has stretched into its second day. The scene bears eerie similarities to the notorious Abimbo mines in neighboring Bondo sub-county, with heavy machinery taking a temporary pause to allow a massive excavator to tackle the task of locating the missing miner.

Yesterday evening marked a tragic turn of events when a mine shaft collapsed, trapping four artisanal miners inside. While three managed to scramble to safety, Kennedy Ouma, aged 19, remains ensnared in the debris.

According to survivors of the ordeal, the four miners were engaged in their usual mining activities when the shaft suddenly caved in around them.

“We were deep within the mines. Typically, there are five of us artisanal miners working in the shaft. As we were wrapping up our shift and preparing to exit, a mound of earth engulfed us. We fought desperately to free ourselves, but our colleague was left behind,” recounted Evans Ajwala, aged 25, one of the survivors.

Despite frantic efforts to rescue their trapped comrade, the relentless cascade of sand only served to further entomb him, heightening the urgency of the rescue mission.