Marsabit, Kenya—An illegal gold mine collapsed in northern Kenya on Friday, May 24, resulting in the deaths of at least five miners, police reported on Saturday. The Hillo mine, located in the Dabel area near the Ethiopian border, succumbed to a landslide.
Marsabit County Police Commander Patrick Mwakio confirmed that the miners died instantly as they were covered by debris. It remains unclear if there are additional victims, as no other miners have been found, and authorities are uncertain if anyone else was missing during the collapse.
In March, Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki declared the area disturbed and imposed a ban on mining activities following a deadly mining dispute that claimed seven lives. Despite the ban, mining persisted, violating laws due to the absence of an environmental impact assessment. The mine’s tunnels had been previously flagged as weak and at risk of collapse.
Residents criticized authorities for failing to enforce the ban, allowing dangerous mining activities to continue.
