In brief
More than 40 individuals, primarily women, lost their lives in a collapse at an illegal gold mine near Kenieba in Mali's Kayes region. The incident marks the second such tragedy in recent weeks, as the country grapples with unregulated mining activities that often lead to deadly accidents.
More than 40 people tragically lost their lives when an illegal gold mine collapsed in Mali on Saturday. The incident took place near Kenieba, a town located in the western Kayes region, which is known for its rich gold deposits. According to a gold miner's union leader, the victims, most of whom were women, had entered open-pit areas abandoned by industrial miners in search of scrap gold when the ground gave way beneath them.Reports on the exact death toll vary; a local police source indicated that 48 people were killed, while the head of an industry union reported 43 victims. Eyewitness accounts reveal harrowing details, with some victims reportedly falling into water during the collapse, including a woman who was carrying her baby.This incident marks Mali's second devastating mining accident in three weeks. Earlier in January, at least 10 individuals died when a mining tunnel was flooded. Such accidents are frequently attributed to the country’s largely unregulated mining sector, where unsafe digging practices are common.Mali, being one of the largest gold producers globally, has seen numerous tragedies in its mining industry, with a notable incident last year where at least 40 people perished due to a tunnel collapse. A spokesperson for the Malian mines ministry confirmed the Saturday accident occurred between the towns of Kenieba and Dabia but withheld further details as teams prepare an incident report.The tragic collapse occurred at a site previously operated by a Chinese company, highlighting ongoing international investment in Mali's mining sector. Currently, Mali is involved in a dispute regarding revenue allocation with Barrick Gold, a significant Canadian mining firm. Recent conflicts have escalated, leading to the seizure of gold worth $245 million and the issuance of an arrest warrant against Barrick's CEO, Mark Bristow.
