gold mine collapse in Mali has claimed the lives of more than 70 people, a senior official said Wednesday, as rescue efforts continue amid fears that the death toll could rise.
Karim Berthé, a senior official at the government’s National Geology and Mining Directorate, confirmed the details to The Associated Press and described the incident as an accident.
Abdoulaye Pona, president of the Mali Chamber of Mines, reported that there were approximately 100 people inside the mine at the time of the collapse.
The incident occurred in the Kangaba district of the southwestern Koulikoro region last Friday. The cause of the collapse is under investigation. The Ministry of Mines initially reported “several” deaths on Tuesday.
Mali, Africa’s third-largest gold producer, often experiences such tragedies. Artisanal miners, who operate on a small scale and informally, are frequently accused of disregarding safety measures, particularly in remote areas.
“We need to regulate the artisanal mining sector to prevent such accidents in the future,” Berthé said.
The Ministry of Mines expressed deep regret over the collapse and urged miners and communities near mining sites to adhere to safety guidelines.
While Mali’s mining sector is dominated by foreign companies such as Canada’s Barrick Gold and B2Gold, Australia’s Resolute Mining, and Britain’s Hummingbird Resources, artisanal mines continue to thrive and attract thousands of gold miners.
Gold is Mali’s primary export, accounting for more than 80% of total exports in 2021, according to the International Trade Administration within the US Department of Commerce. Over two million people, or over 10% of Mali’s population, rely on the mining sector for income.
In 2022, Mali produced 72.2 tonnes of gold, with the metal contributing 25% of the national budget, 75% of export earnings, and 10% of gross domestic product, as reported by former Minister of Mines Lamine Seydou Traore last year.
Despite its economic importance, gold mining in the Sahel region is hazardous, and human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the use of child labor in artisanal mining operations.
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