More than 70 people have died following the collapse of an unregulated gold mine in Mali, says an official

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A senior official in Mali confirmed to The Associated Press that over 70 people perished in an unregulated gold mine collapse late last week, with fears that the death toll could rise as the search continues. The incident was described as an accident by Karim Berthé, a senior official at the government’s National Geology and Mining Directorate. It is still unclear what caused the collapse, which happened on Friday and was reported on Tuesday in a Ministry of Mines statement that estimated “several” miners dead. This incident took place in the Kangaba district in the southwestern Koulikoro region.

This type of accidents is not uncommon in Mali, which is Africa’s third-largest gold producer. Artisanal miners, who operate on a small-scale and informally, are often accused of disregarding safety measures, particularly in remote areas.

Berthé emphasized, “The state must bring order to this artisanal mining sector to prevent these kinds of accidents in the future.”

The Ministry of Mines statement expressed deep regret over the collapse and urged miners, as well as communities living near mining sites, to comply with safety requirements. There have been concerns in recent years that profits from unregulated mining in northern Mali could benefit Islamic extremists operating in that part of the country. The region where this latest collapse occurred, however, is far to the south of that and closer to the capital, Bamako.“Gold is by far Mali’s most important export, comprising more than 80% of total exports in 2021,” according to the International Trade Administration with the U.S. Department of Commerce. It says more than two million people, or over 10% of Mali’s population, depend on the mining sector for income.The Ministry of Mines has estimated that the country has 800 tons in gold deposits.