A 19-year-old man died while two others were seriously injured after part of a quarry collapsed in Kapken, Konoin, Bomet County, on Monday evening.
According to Bomet County disaster management officer Stanley Mutai, the victims were harvesting fine sand from rocks that had recently rolled down a cliff when the ground suddenly gave way, trapping them.
“They were collecting sand deep within the rocks when the cave-in occurred, leaving them with no escape route,” Mutai said.
Residents rushed to the scene after hearing cries for help. Rescue efforts were mounted by police and county disaster response teams, who managed to pull out two survivors.
They were taken to Longisa County Referral Hospital for treatment, while the body of the deceased was moved to the facility’s mortuary.
Konoin sub-county administrator Richard Terer confirmed that the quarry sits on private land and has been operating illegally. He warned that miners often enter the site without protective gear, exposing themselves to frequent and deadly risks.
