A Gold Mine Collapse In Northern Kenya Killed Five People.

An illegal gold mine collapsed in northern Kenya, killing at least five miners, police said Saturday, May 26.

The Hillo mine in the Dabel area near Kenya’s border with Ethiopia collapsed on Friday due to a landslip. According to Marsabit County Police Commander Patrick Mwakio, the miners died on the spot after being covered in debris. No other miners have been discovered, and it is unclear whether anyone else was missing in the collapse.

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki declared the area disturbed and banned mining activities in March following seven deaths in clashes over a mining dispute.

The mining activities were also illegal because no environmental impact assessment had been conducted, and the tunnels were described as weak and on the verge of collapsing. Residents told media outlets that mining had continued despite the March ban, and they blamed the authorities for allowing it. On Friday, the Hillo mine in the Dabel area near Kenya’s border with Ethiopia collapsed due to a landslip. As reported by Marsabit County Police Commander Patrick Mwakio, the workers died on the spot after being buried under debris. Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki declared the area disturbed and banned mining activities in March, following seven deaths in clashes over a mining disagreement.