Ten workers were killed when a construction stone quarry collapsed on Thursday morning in Ntarama Sector, Bugesera District, triggering a probe by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) into the circumstances surrounding one of the deadliest quarrying accidents in the area.
The workers were buried when the quarry collapsed at around 11 a.m. in Nyamabuye Village, Kanzenze Cell, where they were carrying out routine stone extraction activities.
Rescue efforts involving Rwanda National Police, local authorities and other emergency responders continued for several hours as teams searched for survivors using three excavators. By about 11 p.m., all 10 bodies had been recovered from the collapsed quarry.
Bugesera District Mayor Richard Mutabazi said the quarry was operating legally and that those working there were licensed to conduct quarrying activities.
“We experienced a tragic accident in which about 10 of our residents were working in a construction stone quarry. It was an accident because the site where they were working was licensed, the operators had the required permits and the work was being carried out legally,” Mutabazi said.
He said rescue teams had initially focused on determining whether anyone trapped beneath the debris had survived while recovering the bodies of those who had died.
Mutabazi extended his condolences to the families of the victims and urged quarry operators and workers to exercise greater caution by assessing the stability of excavation sites and following safe quarrying practices, even where operations are legally authorized.
Eastern Province Police spokesperson SSP Hamdun Twizeyimana confirmed that all 10 bodies had been recovered after hours of search operations.
“All 10 bodies have now been recovered from the quarry,” Twizeyimana said. “We remind people involved in quarrying activities to operate professionally, use appropriate protective equipment, ensure they have the required licences, avoid practices that endanger the environment, and make sure workers are covered by insurance.”
Twizeyimana also called on members of the public to report emergencies promptly to enable security and rescue agencies to respond as quickly as possible.
RIB has launched an investigation to establish the cause of the collapse.
The victims’ bodies were taken to Kacyiru Hospital for post-mortem examinations before being released to their families for burial.
