In brief
At least 43 miners have tragically lost their lives in a recent collapse, primarily affecting women searching for gold in hazardous conditions.
In a harrowing incident reported on February 16, 2025, an informal gold mine collapse in western Mali has left at least 43 people dead, according to Taoule Camara, head of the national union of gold counters and refineries. The tragedy struck near the town of Kéniéba in the Kayes region, a territory known for its gold deposits. The victims, mostly women, had descended into open-pit areas previously excavated by industrial miners in pursuit of gold scraps when the earth around them crumbled.Although a representative from Mali's mines ministry confirmed the accident occurred between the towns of Kenieba and Dabia, further details remained scarce as ministry teams were still gathering information on the scene. The high demand for gold has made informal mining increasingly profitable in recent years, yet it is fraught with danger due to the lack of regulations and poor working conditions present in many sites across West Africa.This tragic event follows another incident in late January, when heavy flooding resulted in the deaths of 13 artisanal miners in southwest Mali, including women and children. Such incidents further underscore the precariousness of informal mining, which remains a common occupation despite its risks. As authorities grapple with how to improve safety in these operations, the urgent need for regulatory oversight has never been more critical.
