Form Three Student Dies in Migori Mines, Blood Oozing From Mouth
According to a preliminary police report, the student had joined gold miners at the site when he was electrocuted by a winch machine used to haul ore from the mine.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
Detectives have launched investigations following the shocking death of a 16-year-old Form Three student who was found dead inside an artisanal gold mine in Nyalgunga area, Migori County.
The boy reportedly died after entering a mine shaft approximately 150 feet deep in Suna West Sub-County as he was preparing to start work in the morning.
According to a preliminary police report, the student had joined gold miners at the site when he was electrocuted by a winch machine used to haul ore from the mine.
Officers who arrived at the scene found the teenager’s body with blood oozing from the mouth and an injury on the upper left arm. The discovery caused panic among fellow miners and residents of the area.
The scene was photographed and processed by crime scene investigators before the body was removed and taken to the Migori Level Four Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.
Police said they will examine how electrical equipment at the mine was being operated and whether any safety measures had been put in place at the time of the incident. Investigators are also questioning whether the mine was licensed and whether children are allowed to work in such hazardous areas.
Artisanal gold mining is a common activity in Nyatike, Suna and Kuria areas of Migori County, where thousands of youth earn a living from the trade. However, accidents in those mines have been causing deaths and injuries every year due to lack of safety equipment, faulty electrical systems and poorly reinforced shafts.
In a separate incident, a 17-year-old boy was found dead on the shores of Lake Victoria in Uhanya Village, Siaya County, in what police suspect to be a drowning incident.
The body of the boy was found floating near Uhanya Beach in Usenge, West Yimbo Location, on Tuesday afternoon. Police said the deceased was believed to have gone fishing along the lake before his death.
Preliminary police observations established that the body was swollen but had no visible injuries. He was wearing a black T-shirt and black trousers.
The boy’s father told police that his son had been living with epilepsy, a condition which may have contributed to his death while in the water.
Crime scene officers documented the scene before the body was taken to Bondo Hospital mortuary, where it has been preserved pending an autopsy to establish the exact cause of death.
Police have urged gold mine owners and fishermen on Lake Victoria to take safety precautions and ensure that children do not engage in hazardous work that endangers their lives.
About Author
