At Least 48 Killed in Mali Goldmine Collapse as Search for Victims Continues

At least 48 people have died following the collapse of an illegally operated goldmine in western Mali, local authorities and sources confirmed. The tragedy underscores the dangers of unregulated mining in one of Africa’s leading gold-producing nations.

The disaster struck on Saturday at an abandoned site previously operated by a Chinese company. A police source reported, “The toll at 6 p.m. today is 48 dead following the collapse.” Among the victims were miners who fell into the water, including a woman carrying a baby on her back.

The Kenieba goldminers’ association and local officials also confirmed the death toll as rescue efforts continued.

Deadly landslides and accidents are common in Mali’s mining sector, where authorities struggle to regulate unlicensed operations. In January, at least 10 people—mostly women—were killed in a similar landslide in the south. Just over a year ago, more than 70 people died when a tunnel collapsed at another goldmining site in the same region.

Efforts to retrieve bodies and survivors from Saturday’s collapse remain ongoing.