John Ntanyungura who survived the incident told IGIHE that the mine showed signs of collapse and it fell on his workmates right when he went out to check the situation from outside.
“Fifteen of us entered the mine, seven women and eight men. Before the mine collapsed, it showed some signs of collapse. When I got out to see, I found it shaking and it immediately caved in. My colleagues who were still inside were all buried alive and I survived. The way it collapsed, there was no chance for anybody to survive,” John Ntanyungura said.
Different officials including the Eastern Province Governor, Fred Mufulukye, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza arrived at the scene shortly after.
“The miners went to work as usual and the collapse happened while they were under the ground. We have not yet established the cause of the incident,” the Governor of the Eastern Province, Fred Mufulukye told IGIHE.
The Secretary and Head of Legal Administration and External Affairs at PIRAN Resources Ltd, Minyati Tristan extended his condolences to families who lost relatives following the incident promising the company’s help to families of the victims during burial arrangements.