Two miners have died following separate gold mine collapses in Siaya and West Pokot counties, adding to the growing list of fatalities linked to unsafe mining operations.

The most recent incident occurred on Sunday evening in Kambi Karaya, West Pokot, where a female miner was buried inside a tunnel while attempting to extract gold.

After an extensive search and rescue effort, multi-agency teams recovered her body from the debris.

A similar tragedy unfolded two days earlier, on June 14, in Akala, Gem, Siaya County. A tunnel at a gold mining site caved in, trapping several miners.

Police later confirmed that 24-year-old Stephen Owino Wanyumba died on the spot, while at least five others managed to escape unharmed.

These incidents come amid ongoing efforts to clamp down on dangerous artisanal mining practices that continue to claim lives across the country.

The bodies from the recent gold mine collapses have been taken to local mortuaries, awaiting postmortem examinations and further investigations.

These fatalities come just a week after another deadly incident on June 7, where four miners lost their lives and five others were injured when a gold mine caved in at Karon village in West Pokot.

The injured were rescued and rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment.

According to West Pokot Sub- County Deputy County Commissioner Wycliffe Munanda, the miners had entered the pit around 3:00 a.m., unaware that the soil had been destabilized earlier by excavators. Using basic tools like picks and hoes, they were trapped when the walls gave way.

Despite repeated warnings about the dangers of unregulated mining, gold extraction continues in many parts of the country.

The use of heavy machinery to dig deeper pits has been blamed for weakening soil structures, often leading to fatal cave-ins.

West Pokot remains one of the regions rich in gold deposits, drawing locals who risk their lives in search of livelihood despite the glaring safety risks.

Similar tragedies have been reported in other regions as well, including Lirhembe village in Ikolomani, Kakamega County, and Manyatta village in Vihiga County, highlighting the widespread nature of unsafe gold mining practices across the country.

In response to the growing concerns, the government has instructed all individuals and groups involved in mining activities to suspend operations temporarily.

This pause will allow the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to carry out environmental impact assessments and issue ecological guidelines to ensure safer and more sustainable mining practices before any activities can resume.