At least 48 killed in collapse of illegal gold mine in western Mali

A tragic incident occurred in the African country of Mali on Saturday, when the collapse of an illegally operated gold mine in the western part of the country claimed the lives of at least 48 people, as per the reports. Local authorities confirmed the casualties, with several more still feared trapped.

Mali, one of Africa’s top gold producers, has struggled with frequent accidents at mining sites, especially in areas where unregulated mining is rampant. Many such operations are poorly maintained and often lead to deadly landslides, tunnel collapses, and other disasters.

The incident occurred at an abandoned gold mining site once operated by a Chinese company, sources said, as per reports. 

According to a police source, the toll had reached 48 dead by the evening, with some victims reportedly falling into nearby water. 

Local authorities, including the Kenieba gold miners’ association, have confirmed the death toll. The search for more victims is ongoing, as several others remain missing.

This tragedy follows another mining disaster in southern Mali just last month, where a landslide killed at least 10 people, and many others, mostly women, were left unaccounted for. In a similar incident last year, a tunnel collapse at a gold mine in the same region claimed the lives of more than 70 people.

Despite the country’s vast gold resources, Mali’s mining industry continues to face serious challenges due to unregulated operations and lack of safety measures, leading to frequent fatalities in mining communities.

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