More than 40 people, mostly women, lost their lives after an illegal gold mine collapsed in western Mali on Saturday.
The disaster occurred near Kenieba, a gold-rich area in the Kayes region, when the victims were searching for leftover gold in open-pit areas previously used by industrial miners.
Conflicting reports have emerged about the death toll. A local police source told AFP that 48 people perished, while an industry union leader reported 43 fatalities.
Some of the victims, including a woman carrying her baby, fell into water-filled pits, making recovery efforts challenging.
This marks Mali’s second major mining tragedy in three weeks. In late January, at least 10 people were killed when a tunnel flooded.
The country, one of the world’s top gold producers, faces frequent mining accidents due to unregulated practices and unsafe extraction methods.
The collapsed site was previously operated by a Chinese company but had since been abandoned.
Authorities have launched an investigation, with the mines ministry confirming the incident took place between Kenieba and Dabia.
