At least dozens of people, primarily women, have tragically lost their lives after a gold mine collapsed in western Mali on Saturday.
Officials reported that the victims had ventured into an abandoned open-pit mine left by industrial miners, hoping to collect small pieces of gold.
Rescue operations continued late into the evening in Bilali Koto, with emergency crews and volunteers working tirelessly to rescue survivors.
Local authorities have confirmed that many others sustained injuries, and the death toll is expected to climb further.
This disaster sheds light on the growing dangers of unregulated mining, a practice that has significantly increased in recent years.
This marks Mali’s second deadly mining incident in under three weeks, following a landslide at a similar artisanal mine last month, which also claimed the lives of several women.
Mali, one of the largest gold producers globally, still has a largely unregulated mining sector.