At least 22 artisanal gold miners perished in southern Mali on Saturday after the mine shaft they were working in caved in, according to a Reuters report on Thursday.
The miners had reportedly entered the site in the Kalana commune illegally and were digging tunnels when the collapse occurred, said Taoule Camara, the general secretary of the miners’ confederation.
This tragedy comes just months after a similar incident in January, where over 70 miners lost their lives in a southwestern Malian artisanal mine collapse.
Artisanal mining, a prevalent practice across West Africa, has seen a surge in recent years due to rising metal demands and prices.
However, these unregulated and often precarious operations frequently result in deadly accidents as miners rely on rudimentary and unsafe digging methods.
