The incident highlights the dire need for regulatory oversight in Mali's mining industry amid ongoing disputes with foreign companies.
Tragedy Strikes: Over 40 Lives Lost in Mali Mining Disaster
Tragedy Strikes: Over 40 Lives Lost in Mali Mining Disaster
A deadly collapse at an illegal gold mine in western Mali results in multiple casualties, escalating concerns over mining safety practices.
More than 40 individuals have tragically lost their lives in Mali after an illegal gold mine collapsed on Saturday near Kenieba, situated in the gold-rich Kayes region. Most of the victims, including several women, were scavenging for gold scraps in open-pit areas left by industrial miners when the ground beneath them gave way. Conflicting reports indicate that between 43 and 48 people perished in the accident, with some having fallen into water surrounding the site. Eyewitness accounts describe harrowing scenes, including a woman reportedly carrying her baby when the disaster struck, according to local police sources.
This incident follows another disastrous mining accident in late January that resulted in at least 10 deaths due to flooding in a mining tunnel. These repeated accidents underscore the widespread risk associated with unregulated mining activities prevalent in Mali, where safety protocols are often disregarded. In a country recognized as one of the largest gold producers globally, many miners resort to unsafe practices in search of precious metals.
The Mali government has confirmed that the latest collapse occurred at a deserted site previously operated by a Chinese mining firm. While officials from the country's mines ministry have visited the scene, they have yet to release additional information. The ongoing mining industry scrutiny is heightened by a separate dispute between the Malian government and Barrick Gold, a major Canadian firm. Recently, the government confiscated $245 million worth of gold bars from Barrick and issued an arrest warrant for its CEO, further complicating the already tense state of mining operations in the country.
With the alarming frequency of such accidents, the call for stricter safety regulations in Mali's mining sector is more urgent than ever, as the nation grapples with the dual challenges of extracting resources and protecting its workforce.
This incident follows another disastrous mining accident in late January that resulted in at least 10 deaths due to flooding in a mining tunnel. These repeated accidents underscore the widespread risk associated with unregulated mining activities prevalent in Mali, where safety protocols are often disregarded. In a country recognized as one of the largest gold producers globally, many miners resort to unsafe practices in search of precious metals.
The Mali government has confirmed that the latest collapse occurred at a deserted site previously operated by a Chinese mining firm. While officials from the country's mines ministry have visited the scene, they have yet to release additional information. The ongoing mining industry scrutiny is heightened by a separate dispute between the Malian government and Barrick Gold, a major Canadian firm. Recently, the government confiscated $245 million worth of gold bars from Barrick and issued an arrest warrant for its CEO, further complicating the already tense state of mining operations in the country.
With the alarming frequency of such accidents, the call for stricter safety regulations in Mali's mining sector is more urgent than ever, as the nation grapples with the dual challenges of extracting resources and protecting its workforce.
