At least 73 people have tragically lost their lives due to a collapse at an artisanal gold mine in the Kangaba district of Mali, as verified by Karim Berthé, a high-ranking official in the National Geology and Mining Directorate of Mali.
The disaster took place on Friday, January 19, 2024, in the southwestern region of Koulikoro, a significant location for Mali’s artisanal gold mining sector.
Oumar Sidibe, a representative for the gold miners in Kangaba, offered a detailed account of the event. He reported an unusual noise, followed by the ground trembling. At that instant, over 200 laborers were present on the mining site. The aftermath of a thorough search revealed the dreadful truth: 73 bodies were retrieved from the disaster site.
Mali, the third-largest gold producer in Africa, heavily relies on artisanal mining, a small-scale, unregulated, and informal type of mining.
Such mining methods often lack adequate safety precautions, particularly in remote regions, contributing to the frequency of such devastating incidents. Berthé emphasized the critical need for government intervention to regulate this sector and avoid future disasters.
In response to the mine collapse, Mali’s Ministry of Mines issued a statement, expressing profound regret and advising miners and local communities to strictly follow safety guidelines.
As conveyed by Baye Coulibaly, a spokesperson for the ministry, the statement underscored the ongoing problem of non-adherence to safety standards among gold miners. Coulibaly mentioned the ministry’s past unsuccessful efforts to deter unsafe mining activities.
The economic significance of gold mining in Mali is substantial, with the sector representing over 80% of the nation’s total exports in 2021, as per the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.
Over two million people, more than 10% of Mali’s population, rely on the mining sector for their livelihood and work across 300 artisanal mining sites.
Despite its inherent risks, artisanal mining is estimated to yield about 30 tons (around 66,000 pounds) of gold every year, making up 6% of Mali’s total gold production.
Mali’s gold reserves are impressive, with approximately 800 tons in deposits.