BAMAKO: At least 70 people were killed after a tunnel collapsed at a Malian gold mining site last week, said by a local gold mining group leader and a regional official on Wednesday.
The incident occurred in the southwestern town of Kangaba, where more than 200 gold miners were working. Oumar Sidibe, an official representing gold miner in the area, shared details with western media, stating, “It started with a noise. The earth started to shake. There were over 200 gold miners in the field. The search is over now. We’ve found 73 bodies.”
A local councilor confirmed the death toll. Although Mali’s Ministry of Mines acknowledged the death of several miners in a statement on Tuesday, it did not provide specific figures. The government extended its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Mali.
Emphasizing safety measures, the government called on communities near mining sites and gold miners to diligently adhere to safety requirements and operate only within designated gold panning areas.
Mali, ranked among the world’s poorest nations, stands as one of Africa’s major gold producers. Unfortunately, gold mining sites frequently witness deadly landslides, and authorities face challenges in regulating artisanal mining of the precious metal.
In 2022, Mali produced 72.2 tons of gold, with the metal contributing significantly to the national budget, export earnings, and GDP, according to former Minister of Mines Lamine Seydou Traore’s statement in March of the previous year.
