Five people were killed after a gold mine collapsed in southwestern Kenya.

The incident occurred in Narok County, where heavy rains triggered the collapse of an underground mining tunnel.

Narok County Police Commander Patrick Lobolia said the bodies of five miners were recovered from the debris after the tunnel caved in.

Lobolia said rescue efforts were continuing to locate miners believed to be trapped underground.

"The operation is progressing slowly due to a lack of underground search equipment and cameras," he said.

He added that several people were rescued from the site and taken to nearby health facilities for medical treatment.

Artisanal gold mining is a primary source of income for thousands of small-scale miners across Kenya. However, informal and poorly regulated mining operations in gold-rich areas have frequently resulted in deadly collapses and hazardous working conditions. (ILKHA)