Panic and grief have struck Osiri Matanda gold mining village in Nyatike, Migori County, after several multi-storey buildings collapsed into underground mining shafts overnight, trapping an unknown number of residents beneath the rubble.

The tragedy struck at around a few minutes to midnight while victims were still asleep in their homes and place of business.
Among the collapsed structures are residential apartments, a local hotel, and a commercial building housing a pool hall.

Rescue operations have so far been stalled as ground conditions remain unstable.

According to Kefas Ojuka, Chairman of the Small-Scale Gold Miners Association in Nyatike, no survivors have been pulled from the rubble yet, and the exact number of people trapped remains unconfirmed.

“The disaster happened at 11:00 pm while people were asleep ,” Ojuka reported from the scene.

“Commercial buildings, including a hotel and a gaming lounge, simply sank into the hollow ground below. As of now, rescue efforts are extremely difficult and no one has been rescued.”

Ojuka noted that local residents using basic hand tools were unable to clear the heavy debris safely. Community members and local leaders are now appealing to the Migori County Government for urgent intervention.

“We are currently waiting for the Migori County government to deploy heavy machinery and specialized excavators so we can begin a meaningful search-and-rescue operation before it is too late,” Ojuka added.

Local authorities and disaster management teams are expected at the scene as tension continues to build among family members and residents awaiting news of their missing relatives.