A devastating incident happened at an open pit Gold mine near the village of Danga in southwest Mali. Due to a broken sluice gate of a muddy water reservoir, thirteen artisanal miners passed away after a tunnel flooded. The victims included a lot of women and three children who were searching for leftover Gold particles.
The Incident
This tragic incident happened in the Kangaba Cercle within Mali’s Koulikoro region. According to Taoule Camara, Secretary General of the National Union of Gold Counters and Refineries (UCROM), the flood happened when the sluice gates of a water reservoir broke, spilling water into the tunnel where miners were working.
Rescue efforts began immediately, with workers spending an entire day clearing water to recover the bodies. This incident highlights the dangerous conditions faced by artisanal miners on a daily basis. “It is serious, there were a lot of women,” said Camara, emphasizing the widespread impact of such accidents on local communities.
The Risks of Artisanal Mining
Artisanal mining is a widespread practice across West Africa and has become increasingly profitable due to rising demand for metals and higher prices. However, these small-scale operations often lack proper safety measures and regulations, leading to frequent accidents.
In January of last year, over 70 people died in another accident at an artisanal Gold mine in the same region when a shaft collapsed. Incidents like these are alarmingly common. This incident needs to be a wake-up call to the urgent need for safer mining practices and stricter regulations.
