- Gold mine collapse in Mali kills over 40 people
- Most victims were women searching for gold scraps
- Mali's second deadly mining accident in three weeks
More than 40 people, mostly women, have died after an illegal gold mine collapsed in Mali on Saturday. The incident took place near Kéniéba, located in the western Kayes region, known for its rich gold reserves.
The victims, who were reportedly searching for scraps of gold, had climbed into open-pit areas that were left by industrial miners. The earth around them caved in, resulting in the tragic loss of life. A leader from the gold miner’s union told Reuters that the collapse occurred in these abandoned mining areas.
This marks Mali’s second deadly mining accident in just three weeks. In late January, at least 10 people lost their lives when a mining tunnel flooded.
There are conflicting reports regarding the exact number of victims from Saturday’s incident. A local police source told AFP that 48 people had been killed, while the head of the union, speaking to Reuters, confirmed 43 victims.
“Some of the victims fell into the water. Among them was a woman with her baby on her back,” the local police source told AFP.
Rescue operations have managed to recover the bodies of the victims, according to local sources who spoke to the BBC.
Mali, one of the world’s largest gold producers, has long struggled with mining accidents, many of which occur in unregulated operations. Miners often use unsafe techniques to extract gold, and these incidents are all too common.
In one particularly tragic case, just over a year ago, at least 40 people were killed when a mining tunnel collapsed.
Illegal mining is particularly prevalent in Mali, with many miners, especially women, seeking gold from abandoned sites due to poverty.
A spokesperson for Mali’s Mines Ministry confirmed to Reuters that the collapse occurred between the towns of Kéniéba and Dabia but did not provide further details. Ministry teams are currently compiling a report at the scene.
The collapse occurred at an abandoned site that was once operated by a Chinese company, according to AFP. China has significant investments in Mali’s mining sector, with the government’s approval. The country’s natural wealth in gold, iron ore, manganese, lithium, and uranium makes it an attractive destination for Chinese investors.
While Chinese investment has helped improve infrastructure, particularly in transportation, it has also led to concerns about Mali’s ability to repay substantial debts to China. Additionally, Chinese mining operations have faced criticism for contributing to environmental pollution in the region.
Mali is also currently embroiled in a revenue-sharing dispute with one of its largest mining companies, the Canadian firm Barrick. Last month, the Malian government seized gold bars worth $245 million (£194 million) from Barrick and issued an arrest warrant for its CEO, Mark Bristow.
Mr. Bristow, however, expressed confidence that the conflict would eventually be resolved in an interview with Bloomberg this week.
