A tragic accident occurred today at the Kamenwo quarry in Bomet County after a section of the site caved in, leaving one person dead and two others seriously injured.
According to Bomet County Disaster Management Officer Stanley Mutai, the deceased has been identified as a 15-year-old girl. A 7-year-old boy and a 34-year-old woman sustained serious injuries during the incident. The trio was reportedly harvesting sand in between the rocks when the collapse happened.
Emergency responders rushed the injured victims to Longisa County Referral Hospital for treatment, while the girl’s body was taken to the hospital’s mortuary.
Mutai revealed that the two children were not residents of the local area and had been visiting the quarry in the company of the woman, who is a known miner at the site. The circumstances surrounding their presence at the dangerous location are still under investigation.
Local authorities have expressed concern over the safety of mining activities in the region, particularly those involving minors. The county disaster office has since issued a caution to residents to avoid visiting or working in the quarry without proper safety protocols and supervision.
This incident adds to growing concerns about the safety of unregulated mining operations and the presence of children in hazardous work environments.
Further investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the cave-in and whether negligence played a role in the fatal incident.
Authorities have urged members of the public to report unsafe mining practices and ensure the protection of children from such dangerous environments.