At least 10 people have died after an artisanal gold mine collapsed in northwestern Kenya, with rescue teams still searching for survivors feared trapped under rubble, authorities said Friday.
The incident occurred Thursday evening at Rumos Hills near the border between West Pokot and Turkana counties, in a region where informal mining is widespread but often poorly regulated.
West Pokot County Commissioner David Saruni said rescue operations were continuing, led by the Kenya Red Cross in coordination with local authorities.
“At least 10 bodies have been retrieved from the pit, and a rescue mission is ongoing as more people are believed to be trapped in the collapsed pit,” Saruni said.
Officials said they had received reports of sounds and screams from beneath the debris, raising hopes that some miners may still be alive.
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Twelve survivors were rescued from the site and taken to a local health facility for treatment, according to authorities. Their conditions were not immediately disclosed.
Local tribal chief Isaac Lomwai said a group of artisanal miners had been working inside the pit when its walls suddenly gave way, burying workers underground.
The number of miners inside the shaft at the time of the collapse remains unclear.
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Artisanal and small-scale mining is common in parts of western Kenya, where communities often rely on gold extraction for income despite safety risks and limited oversight. Collapses in informal pits have been reported repeatedly in recent years, frequently linked to unstable excavation methods and a lack of protective infrastructure.
Authorities have previously warned about the dangers of unregulated mining, particularly in areas where miners dig deep, narrow shafts without engineering support or safety equipment.
Rescue teams faced difficult terrain and unstable ground conditions as they worked to reach possible survivors, officials said.
By Friday evening, operations were still underway, with emergency crews continuing to clear debris manually in hopes of locating additional trapped miners.
Officials have not yet provided a full assessment of the cause of the collapse, though early indications point to structural failure of the pit walls during active digging.
The incident has renewed concerns over safety standards in Kenya’s informal mining sector, which employs thousands of people but remains largely outside formal regulation and enforcement systems.
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Authorities said further updates would be provided as rescue efforts continue and more information becomes available about those affected.
