By ANTONY GITONGA
Nakuru County
Two people have died after walls of sand quarry collapsed on them in Kikopey, near Gilgil town.
They died as other sand harvesters struggled to save their lives using bare hands. Emotions ran high as residents joined hands in trying to scoop sand from the quarry said to be the largest in the area.
Residents mill around a sand mine in Kikopey, Gilgil, where two harvesters died after the quarry collapsed on Tuesday, burying them alive. More than 10 people have been killed in the quarry since 2000. [PHOTO: ANTONY GITONGA/STANDARD] READ MOREOver 250 missing after Hong Kong's deadliest blaze in decades Solai tragedy was an act of God, witness tells court Questions as bodies of men who drown in Mombasa are retrieved from the ocean One body recovered as state pledges to support victims of Tudor boat tragedy |
According to a witness, Mr Francis Macharia, the two arrived in the morning and headed to their section of the quarry. He said he heard a thumping sound at around 1am and then he was covered by dust.
Loud cries
"I knew part of the quarry had caved in and started screaming, calling for help," said Macharia.
He told of how they scooped sand from the collapsed section with faint sounds of the two victims audible from a distance. After an hour of digging and praying, their efforts ended fruitlessly as they stumbled upon the two bodies.
Mr James Gichuru, a resident, called on the Internal Security ministry to provide Gilgil Police Station with a vehicle to help in emergency response. "We regret the loss as the two who were seeking income to support their families," he said.
Naivasha deputy OCPD Paul Korir said the bodies had been taken to Gilgil District Hospital mortuary.
