At least five miners were killed and several others were feared trapped after an underground tunnel collapsed at the Kilimapesa Gold Mine in Transmara South, southwestern Kenya, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
The mine, located about 260 kilometres southwest of Nairobi, is operated by London-listed Caracal Gold PLC through its Kenyan subsidiary. The collapse occurred after miners entered a tunnel that later caved in.
Transmara South Deputy County Commissioner Stephen Odeke said rescue efforts were being hampered by a lack of specialized equipment, while authorities had yet to determine how many people remained trapped underground. The cause of the collapse remains unknown, with investigations expected to begin after rescue operations are completed.
Fatal mining accidents are common in Kenya, particularly in underground operations, where inadequate safety measures and limited rescue capacity have contributed to repeated deadly incidents.