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Kinyarwanda
At least 14 miners have been confirmed dead in a mining incident which occurred in Rwamagana District police have confirmed.
“I can confirm that a total of 14 persons working at a minefield in Mwurire sector, Ntunga cell Kiyovu village about 52km East of Kigali city have died” Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabere the Police Spokesperson said.
Rwanda investigation Bureau (RIB) has commenced investigations to establish the cause of the incident.
He said the miners were trapped by a landslide during an opencast mining activity belonging to PIRAN Rwanda Ltd mining concession.
The incident occurred on January 21, in Rwamagana District where a hill nearby covered mine workers.
He explained that the incident occurred at 8: 30 local time.
Police said that all bodies have been evacuated to Kacyiru Hospital mortuary.
Police identified the dead as Manirakiza Sildio 24, Niyonshuti Vital 30, Murwanashyaka Theoneste 25, Ntabanganyimana Valentine 25, Mutumyinka Francoise 22, Mukamusoni Florance 38, Mukankundiye Violette 26, Ikimanizanye Aimelance 24, Bakunda J Baptiste 23.
Others are Uwiringiyimana Gad 27, Uwizeyimana Stanisilas 31, Niyonshima Olive 29, Mushimiyimana Fiona 26 and Uwizeyimana Charles 33.
On the cause of the accident and mine workers’ safety, CP Kabera said there are proper guidelines and standard procedures mine field owners have to observe before embarking on any mineral extraction related activity.
He said Police remains ‘extremely concern about the safety conditions’ of mine workers.
“We urge Concession owners to at all-time make regular inspections to establish if there any loose rocks and to follow every safety standards and procedures required”, CP Kabera said.
