A man who was trapped under the rubble after a gold mine collapsed in Abimbo, Siaya County, was rescued on Sunday, December 5.
The man was pulled out of the site alive after being buried for four days.
He was among 10 miners trapped after the walls of the gold mine caved in on Thursday, December 2. Two miners were rescued immediately - leaving eight others trapped.
Four other miners still remain trapped in the debris. This brings the total number of people rescued to three.
On Saturday, Livingstone Odhiambo, became the third survivor to be pulled out of the scene. However, a second victim, and his son, Enos Ongong'a was pronounced dead.
Speaking to the media on November 4, Odhiambo revealed that Ongong'a was working above them when the mine crumbled. He was stuck after being hit by a falling boulder.
“I tried pulling him down but gave up after realising he had been badly injured. He died a few minutes later as I watched helplessly,” Odhiambo stated.
He added that he and his colleagues were to leave the mine 20 minutes before the earth began shaking and ultimately collapsed.
They all made a run for the entrance only for it to be blocked by a huge boulder. The miners then moved to safety within the mine.
According to Odhiambo, he maintained communication with the multi-agency rescue team using pipes that slipped through the debris. He used it to guide the contractors, who were using excavators, on when to stop when they got close to where they were.
The pipers were also used to supply the miners with air, which in turn helped cool down the high temperatures inside the mine.
Families of the victims have set camp on the site, hopeful that their kin will be pulled out of the mine alive. Rescue efforts are still ongoing.
