Rwanda National Police (RNP) has called upon miners to be “extremely cautious” in this rainy season to prevent disasters and loss of lives.
The call follows various incidents where mining concessions have been weakened by heavy downpour leading to the collapse of cliffs and causing fatalities.
On Monday, Police and residents of Rukara Sector in Kayonza District rescued two miners from a concession, 24 hours after the cliff caved-in blocking their only entry and exit point.
Jackson Amani and Musabyimana working for Vision Mining Company were rescued alive at about 3pm on Monday after spending 24 hours underground in the cassiterite concession.
In a similar incident, one person died and two others were rescued alive from a sand concession in Nyange Sector of Musanze District also on Monday.
In both cases, it is said that the cliffs had been weakened by the heavy rains causing landslides.
“We encourage miners to take precaution and practice safe mining. We are in the rainy season, which weakens the soil, and in cases where miners tamper with weakened cliffs it causes landslides leading to injuries or loss of lives,” Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alexis Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region.
The Northern Province is one of the regions with many mining concessions especially in Rulindo District.
CIP Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region echoed the same message, but appealed to owners of the concessions to take lead to also prevent illegal mining activities, which also lead to such disasters.
The Express News
