At least four people lost their lives, and several others remain trapped under the rubble.
The tragedy unfolded around 5 am as more than ten miners were extracting gold from a strip pit.
According to reports, the deceased included three men and one woman.
One other individual was critically injured, sustaining severe injuries to their limbs.
The body of the deceased and the injured miner were swiftly transported to the Kapenguria County Hospital mortuary and the same hospital for treatment, respectively.
Authorities fear that the death toll may rise as more miners are believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed mine.
West Pokot County Police Commander Nelson Omwenga confirmed the incident, stating that a rescue operation was underway, led by General Service Unit (GSU) officers.
Omwenga further warned that the number of casualties could increase as rescuers continue to search for survivors.
He urged the families of the victims to remain patient during the ongoing recovery efforts.
The collapse occurred while miners were working in the pit, a dangerous yet common activity in the region, where many locals engage in small-scale gold mining.
The area has previously been known for its unstable mining conditions, which have led to similar accidents over the years.
Local authorities have expressed concern over the growing number of illegal and unsafe mining operations in the region, as miners often work in unregulated pits without safety protocols.
This incident in West Pokot follows a similar tragedy in Marsabit County just a week ago.
On December 10, 2024, six people were killed, and ten others were injured when an illegal gold mine collapsed in the Dadel area.
This mine had been closed by the government months earlier for security reasons, but miners continued to invade the site.
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