Accident at Sand Harvesting Site

Homa Bay

Wednesday August 30, 2023 2023

KNA by Sitna Omar

A 20-year-old man has succumbed to injuries sustained after he was involved in an accident at a sand harvesting site in Rachuonyo sub-county.

The deceased, who was working in one of the caves at the said mine was badly hit by sand, which covered him completely rendering him unconscious.

Kajie sub-location assistant chief Cosmas Odipo confirmed that the deceased met with the accident Tuesday morning before he was rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital.

“The young man died as the doctors were trying to resuscitate him,” he said.

Odipo, who is also the acting chief of Wang'chieng location, lamented that such cases have become common within the area as more people indulge in this illegal activity.

He informed that the ministry of environment through the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) had conducted a number of meetings with the area administrators to sensitise residents about illegal sand harvesting. 

“Despite doing this our people are not paying heed to the dangers surrounding illegal harvesting of sand. This is the reason why many of them are still losing their lives,” he justified.

The chief noted that sand harvesting has now become a disaster and reminded the area residents to think before indulging in the activity, adding that the depth of the holes after sand harvesting have become too big, therefore risky.

Courtesy ;; K. N. A