By Sama Marwan,
Local authorities in the Koulikoro region, in central-western Mali, have announced that a landslide at a gold mine has resulted in the deaths of a large number of gold prospectors.
According to regional officials, as reported by Radio France Internationale on Saturday, “the incident occurred when the victims found themselves trapped in a pit submerged in muddy water, which caused destruction and led to sudden flooding at the site.”
Authorities have mobilized rescue teams to assist the injured and recover bodies from the rubble. Meanwhile, security measures have been imposed at the site to prevent further disasters.
Despite search efforts, no bodies have been retrieved due to the strength of the muddy waters, which even swallowed a mechanical excavator used at the site. However, the governorate of Koulikoro confirmed that “search operations are continuing persistently despite the difficult conditions and hazardous environment.”
This tragedy has renewed concerns about the risks associated with artisanal gold mining in Mali, where collapses frequently occur.
In January 2024, more than 70 people were killed in a gold mining site collapse in the same Koulikoro region.
