Two buried alive in quarry accident

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]

The death brought to 14, the number of those killed at the vast quarry since 2000. Among those who died on Tuesday was Anthony Kinuthia, whose elder brother died in the same quarry under similar circumstances in 2008.

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.