At least 43 people, mostly women, lost their lives after an artisanal gold mine collapsed in western Mali on Saturday, an industry union official confirmed.
The disaster occurred near Kenieba, a town in the gold-rich Kayes region, according to Taoule Camara, secretary general of the National Union of Gold Counters and Refineries (UCROM).
The victims had ventured into abandoned open-pit mining areas left by industrial operations, searching for gold scraps when the ground suddenly gave way, Camara said.
A spokesperson for the mines ministry acknowledged the incident, which took place between Kenieba and Dabia, but withheld further details, citing an ongoing assessment by ministry teams on site.
Artisanal mining is widespread across West Africa and has become increasingly profitable with rising global demand for metals. However, the sector remains largely unregulated, leading to frequent and deadly accidents.
Last month, a similar tragedy struck southwest Mali, where 13 artisanal miners—including women and three children—were killed when a tunnel they were digging flooded.
