In Bilalkoto, a village in the Dabia commune located in the Kenieba district of the Kayes region, a tragedy occurred. A local official, under condition of anonymity, reported that a collapse was triggered by a Caterpillar machine that fell onto an artisanal mine where a group of people were working in search of gold. Fortunately, the rescue operation has concluded and no one is left trapped under the rubble. The tragic incident resulted in the loss of 49 women and one man.
Mali's Prime Minister, Abdoulaye Maiga, declared on Sunday night that the government would undertake "relentless" measures in response to this mining disaster. Despite being one of the leading gold producers in Africa, local authorities face difficulties in regulating illegal mining activities in the country. Artisanal miners often work under extremely dangerous conditions, leading to frequent mining accidents, many of which are fatal.
This is not the first time Mali has been affected by a tragic event in a gold mine. On January 29, a collapse at a mining site in the Danga area of the Kangaba district in the Koulikoro region resulted in the deaths of 13 people. The most recent incident in western Mali has raised the death toll to 50 due to the collapse of an illegally operated gold mine.
