A miner from Nyagisozi Sector in Nyanza District was killed on Tuesday when a cliff of a mining site caved in.

Calixte Ndabazi, 23, a native of Nyamagabe District, was with four others, reportedly mining illegally at night in a tin concession owned by HIVILLA Mining Company.

The others escaped with injuries after Police and residents rescued them and were admitted to Mweya Health Centre.

Hubert Gashagaza, the Southern region Police spokesperson, confirmed the incident, and warned the public against illegal mining.

"Illegal mining poses a real threat to lives because these people go in without any protective gear, and yet they don’t know the status of the site,” he said.

He appealed to residents to avail timely information on people suspected to be involved in unlawful activities to prevent likely loss of lives and combat illegal mineral business, which he said affects the country’s economy.

Five miners died after suffocating in a mining cave in Burera District last month.

Following the accident, the State Minister in charge of Minerals, Evode Imena, warned miners against illegal mining, especially at night.

He challenged miners and mining companies’ managers to ensure that no illegal mining is done in all mines and that every company acquires all the requisite equipment and abide with laws regulating mining extraction in the country.

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