At least 48 dead in Mali Gold Mine disaster – Here's what we know  

In a devastating incident that underscores the perilous nature of informal mining in West Africa, at least 48 people lost their lives when a landslide struck an illegal gold mining operation in western Mali on Friday. Among the victims were numerous women, including one carrying a baby on her back, painting a stark picture of the desperate circumstances driving Mali's poorest citizens to risk their lives in abandoned mines.

The disaster occurred at a derelict site in Bilalkoto that was previously operated by a Chinese mining company. Local witnesses report that victims were sifting through mining waste in search of gold remnants when the collapse occurred, with some falling into water-filled pits during the catastrophe. Search and rescue operations remain ongoing, with authorities warning the death toll could rise further.

This latest tragedy follows a grim pattern of mining disasters in Mali, Africa's third-largest gold producer. Just last month, a similar incident in the country's southern region claimed at least 10 lives, while a tunnel collapse last year resulted in over 70 fatalities. These recurring disasters highlight the challenges facing one of the world's poorest nations, where the lure of gold draws desperate civilians to dangerous abandoned mining sites.

"The prevalence of women and children at these mining sites reflects the deep poverty driving people to take enormous risks," explains a regional mining expert who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Despite the well-known dangers, many see no alternative to feed their families."

Mali's authorities have long struggled to regulate informal mining operations, which have proliferated across the country's gold-rich regions. The sector, while providing crucial income for many of Mali's poorest citizens, operates largely outside government oversight, leading to frequent accidents and fatalities.

The incident has renewed calls for stronger regulation of abandoned mining sites and better economic alternatives for Mali's rural poor. However, in a country grappling with political instability and limited resources, meaningful reform remains elusive.

As rescue efforts continue in Bilalkoto, families of the victims gather at the site.

For many observers, the disaster serves as a sobering reminder of the human cost of unregulated mining in one of Africa's major gold-producing nations.