The mayor of Bugesera District, Richard Mutabazi, has called on quarry operators and workers to exercise caution after a quarry collapsed, killing 10 people on Thursday, July 9.
The deadly incident occurred on Thursday morning in Nyamabuye Village, Kanzenze Cell, Ntarama Sector, where the workers were extracting sand and stones.
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The search and rescue operation was completed close to midnight, with all 10 people who had been trapped under the debris confirmed dead, according to police
Mutabazi told The New Times that the quarry was licensed and insured.
"The quarrying site is already known, licensed and insured. After the incident, we had to stop its operations and work with all relevant institutions to carry out the rescue operation," the mayor said.
The mayor said preliminary findings indicated that the collapse may have been caused by a previously excavated section of the quarry that gave way.
"The part that had already been quarried, which had become like a slope, slid towards where the workers were. At the moment, there is no indication that rainfall contributed to the collapse because it hasn&039;t rained recently, which would have made the ground heavier or softer," Mutabazi said.
He said investigations are still ongoing to establish the exact circumstances that led to the collapse.
Mutabazi said the district conducts regular inspections of quarry operations and will continue working with relevant institutions to ensure extraction activities are carried out safely.
He urged quarry operators to go beyond meeting regulatory requirements by properly planning excavation activities and avoiding practices that could increase the risk of collapses.
"Those operating quarry sites should comply with safety requirements and also exercise due diligence by planning their activities well. Extracting too deep and continuing to go deeper can create risks of collapse or landslides," he said.
The mayor conveyed condolences to the families who lost their relatives.