More than 40 people, most of them women, lost their lives when an illegal gold mine collapsed in Mali’s gold-rich Kayes region on Saturday.
The disaster occurred near Kéniéba, where miners had entered open-pit areas abandoned by industrial operators in search of leftover gold deposits.
According to a local gold miners’ union leader who spoke to Reuters, the ground gave way beneath them, trapping many beneath the rubble.
There are conflicting reports regarding the exact number of casualties. A police source told AFP that 48 people died, while a union leader put the figure at 43.
“Some of the victims fell into the water. Among them was a woman with her baby on her back,” the police source revealed. Rescue workers have since managed to retrieve the bodies, local sources confirmed to BBC.
This marks Mali’s second fatal mining accident in less than a month. In late January, at least 10 people died when a mining tunnel flooded.
Such tragedies are not uncommon, as much of Mali’s mining sector remains unregulated, forcing miners to rely on unsafe extraction methods. In January 2023, a similar collapse claimed over 40 lives.
Mali is one of the world’s largest gold producers, with illegal mining often drawing impoverished women who scavenge for gold at abandoned sites.
A spokesperson from the Malian mines ministry confirmed the latest accident to Reuters but declined to provide further details, stating that ministry teams are compiling a report.
According to AFP, the collapsed mine was once operated by a Chinese company. Beijing has played a major role in developing Mali’s mining sector with government backing, but its involvement has raised concerns over environmental pollution and economic dependence.
While Chinese investment has improved infrastructure, particularly in transportation, Mali has accumulated significant debt obligations to China.
The country is also embroiled in a dispute with the Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold.
In January, the Malian government seized $245 million worth of gold from the company and issued an arrest warrant for CEO Mark Bristow. Despite the tensions, Bristow told Bloomberg this week that he is confident the issue will be resolved.
Source-BBC
