A gold mine in western Kenya partially collapsed, trapping a dozen people, police reported on Tuesday.

Kenya’s mining sector remains relatively small compared to its neighbors. Despite rapid growth in recent years, much of the industry remains unregulated, with miners facing poor safety conditions and threats from organized crime groups.

“There were around 20 miners present when the collapse occurred, but eight have been rescued,” said Daniel Makumbu, a county police commander in the Kakamega region, speaking to AFP.

“Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, and we urge onlookers to stay away to facilitate the operation and avoid endangering themselves, as the area remains highly unstable,” he added.

The collapse took place late Monday.

A report by Africa’s Institute for Security Studies found that legal small-scale mining—mainly gold—contributed $224 million to Kenya’s economy in 2022, accounting for nearly half of its mining output and employing approximately 250,000 people.

In May 2024, at least five people died when heavy rains caused an unlicensed gold mine to collapse in the Hillo area near the Ethiopian border.