More than 40 individuals, predominantly women, lost their lives following the collapse of an illegal gold mine in Mali on Saturday.
The incident occurred near Kéniéba, situated in the gold-rich Kayes region of western Mali.
According to a leader from a gold miners’ union, the victims had entered open-pit areas left by industrial miners in search of gold scraps when the surrounding earth gave way, as reported by Reuters.
This marks Mali’s second fatal mining incident in just three weeks, following a January event where at least 10 individuals perished due to a flooded mining tunnel.
There are varying accounts regarding the death toll from Saturday’s tragedy. A local police official reported that 48 individuals were killed, while the head of an industry union stated that the number of victims was 43.
“Some of the victims fell into the water, including a woman carrying her baby on her back,” the police source noted.
Rescue teams have successfully recovered the bodies, according to local sources cited by Africa24hrsnews.
Mali ranks among the world’s largest gold producers, yet mining accidents are frequent due to the unregulated nature of much of the industry, with miners often employing hazardous methods to extract gold.
Just over a year ago, a tunnel collapse in a mine resulted in the deaths of at least 40 people. It is also common for illegal miners, primarily women, to seek gold from abandoned sites as a means of survival amid poverty.
A representative from the mines ministry of the country confirmed to our newsroom that the incident occurred between the towns of Kéniéba and Dabia, but did not provide additional information.
The collapse on Saturday happened at a site that was previously operated by a Chinese company. China has made substantial investments in the development of Mali’s mining sector, with the endorsement of the local government.
Mali’s wealth of natural resources, such as gold, iron ore, manganese, lithium, and uranium, makes it an appealing location for Chinese investors.
Although these investments have enhanced Mali’s infrastructure, particularly in transportation, the government has incurred considerable debt to China, raising concerns about its capacity to service these loans.
Chinese mining operations have faced criticism for their role in environmental degradation within the country.
Currently, Mali is involved in a dispute regarding revenue sharing with one of its largest mining firms, the Canadian company Barrick.
Last month, the Malian government confiscated gold bars valued at $245 million (£194 million) from Barrick and issued an arrest warrant for its CEO, Mark Bristow.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Mr. Bristow expressed confidence that the dispute would be resolved.
