At least three people were killed when a quarry collapsed in Kokotoni village, Malindi, Kilifi County. The victims included a man and his wife aged 39 and 34, police said. The other victim was a woman aged 38. Malindi Deputy County Commissioner David Lusava said the victims were mining stones when the tragic incident occurred on Thursday. A search and rescue mission was conducted in the rubble, but no more bodies or survivors were found.

The official said the quarry had been shut down by the government last year after it was deemed a safety hazard to the surrounding community. Despite the closure, some individuals continued to operate in the area, leading to the fatal incident. Rescue operations went on as emergency teams worked to locate and retrieve any remaining victims if any and reported late in the night the site had been cleared.

Witnesses at the scene raised concerns over delayed response, saying faster intervention could have helped to rescue the deceased.

Authorities urged the public to avoid unsafe mining sites and adhere to government directives on closed or condemned operations as investigations into the incident continue. Many locals venture into such mining sites to eke a living…