Illegal Gold Mine Collapse in Northern Kenya Kills Five Miners

DABEL, Kenya — An illegal gold mine collapsed in northern Kenya on Friday, May 26, resulting in the deaths of at least five miners, police reported on Saturday.

The collapse of the Hillo mine, located in the Dabel area near the Ethiopian border, was caused by a landslide. Marsabit County Police Commander Patrick Mwakio confirmed that the miners were killed instantly when debris buried them.

It is currently unknown if any other miners were present at the time of the collapse, and no additional bodies have been recovered.

In March, Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki declared the area disturbed and banned mining activities after a dispute over mining operations led to the deaths of seven people. Despite the ban, mining activities continued, with residents blaming authorities for not enforcing the prohibition.

The mining activities at Hillo were illegal, as no environmental impact assessment had been conducted, and the tunnels were deemed weak and at risk of collapsing. Residents reported that mining persisted despite the March ban, raising concerns about the enforcement of safety regulations and the protection of miners' lives.