A tragic accident occurred on Saturday at an illegal gold mining site in Bilalkoto, a village in the Kayes region of western Mali. According to consistent eyewitness accounts, a Caterpillar machine fell onto an artisanal mine where a group of women were working, resulting in the deaths of at least 48 women.
The local official, who spoke to Xinhua anonymously, confirmed that "48 women died on the spot," while about 10 severely injured individuals were taken to a local hospital for treatment. The official also stated that the exact death toll is difficult to confirm at this time, as the number could rise due to the severity of some injuries. Rescue operations are still ongoing.
This tragedy follows another gold mine collapse that occurred on January 29th in the Danga area of the Kangaba district, Koulikoro region, which killed about 10 people. These incidents highlight the dangers associated with illegal gold mining and the need for improved safety measures in these operations.
5 Comments
Muchacho
“This report seems too sanitized. Where’s the investigation into who allowed unsafe practices to continue for so long?”
Manolo Noriega
“This article is a call for accountability and reform. Every life lost due to preventable industrial negligence is one too many.”
Fuerza
“My heart goes out to the affected families. We need to support measures that protect artisanal miners and prevent future disasters.”
Manolo Noriega
“It’s infuriating to see the tragedy minimized by vague statements – real accountability is nowhere to be found in articles like this.”
Ongania
“The narrative conveniently omits the environmental and social devastation that follows these mining practices. It’s incomplete and self-serving.”