At least five people have died after a gold mine shaft collapsed at the Kilimapesa mining area in Lolgorian, Transmara South, Narok County, with rescue teams continuing to search for anyone who may still be trapped beneath the debris.

The collapse occurred on the night of Tuesday, July 21, during mining activities at the site. Police, local administrators, emergency responders and residents were deployed to the scene to recover victims and search for possible survivors.

By Wednesday, authorities had confirmed that five bodies had been recovered from the collapsed shaft. Rescue operations were still underway at the time of publication, and officials had not ruled out the possibility that additional miners could be trapped. Authorities have therefore not declared a final casualty figure.

Police have secured the area as investigations begin into the cause of the collapse. Officials have not announced what triggered the incident, and no findings have been released regarding whether the mine was operating in compliance with safety requirements.

According to preliminary information from authorities, rescue teams are using specialised equipment to assess the stability of the collapsed shaft while continuing recovery efforts.

The identities of the deceased had not been released by the time of publication, pending formal identification and notification of their families.

The latest incident is the second fatal mining accident reported in the Lolgorian area this year. In February, two miners died after an underground tunnel collapsed at another mining site in the area, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement of safety standards in small-scale mining operations.

Kilimapesa is one of Kenya’s established gold mining areas, where both licensed and artisanal mining activities take place. Fatal accidents involving collapsing mine shafts have occurred in several parts of the country in recent years, leading authorities to increase scrutiny of mining safety and compliance with occupational health regulations.

Officials from the relevant government agencies are expected to inspect the site and determine the circumstances that led to the collapse. Their findings will establish whether any safety or regulatory breaches contributed to the incident.

Authorities have urged members of the public to keep away from the affected area to allow rescue personnel to continue recovery operations safely. Further updates are expected once the search operation is complete and investigators release their preliminary findings.