At least 5 female artisan miners have died after a prohibited gold mine collapsed at Lumba Village in Rarieda Sub-County, Siaya County.

According to witnesses, the mining shaft caved in on Monday, March 3, around 5 pm, burying six women who were busy performing illegal mining activities.

Following the incident, the locals who were on high alert immediately began the process of retrieving the six who were buried alive, after about three hours, the bodies of five women were retrieved.

Siaya County Police Commander Sarah Koki confirmed the incident, revealing that the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) were already on the scene to coordinate the rescue process.