One dead, three trapped in Meru quarry collapse
The scene where three quarry workers are feared to be trapped.
Photo credit: David Muchui| Nation Media Group
By David Muchui
Correspondent
Nation Media Group
One person died and three others are feared trapped after a quarry caved in at Mutonga in Imenti South, Meru County.
Two people are hospitalised while one escaped unhurt when rocks came tumbling down some 50 meters above where they were hewing stones at around 8.30am.
Igoji Deputy County Commissioner Zuhura Mambo said one body was retrieved from the rubble while three others managed to emerge with injuries.
"I received the report at about 8.40 am and called the relevant agencies to respond.
We called various agencies for search and rescue. We are not very sure how many people could be trapped in the rubble," Ms Mambo said.
The scene where three quarry workers are feared to be trapped.
Photo credit: David Muchui| Nation Media Group
Mr Nebert Gikundi, a quarry worker, said about seven people were working in the area when the rock collapsed.
"I was across the river when the rockslide happened. We rushed and managed to rescue three people. One of them was already dead," Mr Gikundi said.
Residents lamented the slow response by Meru County Government as no search and rescue efforts had commenced by 3pm.
"It is worrying that no effort has been made to search those trapped. The county government collects more than Sh20 million annually from the quarries, yet they cannot come to our rescue," Erick Mwiti, a Quarry worker, said.
Mr Mwiti Kathara, a politician, expressed concern over the readiness of Meru County in handling disasters.
"The state of Meru County government's disaster preparedness is wanting. What happened to the resources mobilised to respond to floods? County officers are claiming that there is no fuel or funds to hire excavators," Mr Kathara said.
Meanwhile, the deputy county commissioner called for more caution among quarry workers during the rainy season.
"We have already advised the quarry owners to close the sites during the rains when landslides are common. There are also waterlogged areas where people are at risk of drowning," she said.
She said environmental experts and geologists will continue to assess the quarries for safety.
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