Mali goldmine collapse claims at least 48 lives

At least 48 people have been confirmed dead following the collapse of an illegally operated gold mine in western Mali on February 15.

Mali, one of Africa’s leading gold producers, is no stranger to fatal mining accidents, as unregulated sites are frequent locations for deadly landslides and other incidents, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The country, which remains one of the world’s poorest, has struggled to control its illegal mining sector, where safety measures are often ignored.

“The toll at 18:00 today is 48 dead following the collapse,” a police source stated. “Some of the victims fell into the water. Among them was a woman with her baby on her back.”

A local official also confirmed the incident, and the Kenieba gold miners’ association matched the death toll at 48.

The search for additional victims is ongoing, according to the head of an environmental organization.

The collapse occurred at an abandoned site that was previously operated by a Chinese company, sources reported.

In January, a similar tragedy struck in southern Mali, where a landslide at a gold mine killed at least 10 people and left many others missing, with most of the victims being women. Over a year ago, a tunnel collapse at a gold mine in the same region claimed the lives of more than 70 people.

Mali’s gold mining industry continues to experience safety challenges, and such deadly accidents are a stark reminder of the ongoing risks faced by workers at unregulated sites.

By Vafa Guliyeva