The government has moved in to check the safety of gold mines in Migori county after five people died and over a dozen escaped when a mine collapsed at Kanga in Rongo sub-county.
On Tuesday, mining turned tragic as over 18 people were mining when walls collapsed.
Rescue operation went on until 10:30pm when it was stopped after all bodies were accounted for.
Rongo DCC George Otenga said a total of five people died, three on the spot and two while receiving treatment at local hospitals.
"We pulled out three bodies from the mines by the time we closed rescue operations and two died while receiving treatment," Otenga said.
About 13 people who were in the mines were accounted for after they were rescued with over half of them still receiving treatment in local hospitals and are in stable conditions.
He said police, officers from the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and those from mining will move across mines to check on safety and close those which are risky.
"We will not only close risky mines but tell miners how best they can improve safety before reopening. The operation will start today," Otenga said.
He called on gold artisanal miners to form groups and cooperatives to ease licensing and pool resources to improve safety.
He was speaking to the press in his office in Rongo town on Thursday morning.
The mine was said to be more than 750 feet deep and had been extensively mined during the current drought which is a high peak without proper scaffolding.
Most miners managed to escape to safety through other routes while those who were trapped stayed in safe areas which allowed evacuation.
