Dozens Killed In Mali Illegal Gold Mine Collapse

At least dozens of people, mostly women, have died after an illegal gold mine collapsed in western Mali on Saturday.

According to local officials, the victims had entered the abandoned open-pit mine, previously used by industrial miners, in search of small gold fragments when the disaster struck.

Rescue efforts at Bilali Koto continued late into the night as emergency teams and volunteers worked tirelessly to save survivors. Many were injured, and authorities warn that the death toll may rise.

This marks Mali’s second fatal mining accident in under three weeks, following a deadly landslide at another artisanal gold mine last month.

Despite being one of the world’s largest gold producers, much of Mali’s mining activity remains unregulated, putting thousands of informal miners at risk.

The tragedy has reignited concerns about unsafe working conditions in artisanal mining, which has surged in recent years due to economic hardship and a lack of employment opportunities.