00:00 A tragic incident unfolded last week at a gold mining site in Mali, resulting in the
00:06 collapse of a tunnel and the loss of more than 70 lives, as reported by a local gold
00:10 mining group leader and a regional official on Wennessee.
00:14 The calamity began with a startling noise, accompanied by tremors that shook the earth.
00:19 With over 200 gold miners present at the site, the search and rescue efforts have concluded,
00:24 revealing a heartbreaking toll of 73 lives lost, as confirmed by Omar Sidibe, an official
00:30 representing gold miners in the southwestern town of Kangaba and echoed by a local councillor.
00:36 On Tuesday, Mali's Ministry of Mines issued a statement acknowledging the tragic incident
00:40 at a mining site, confirming the loss of several miners.
00:43 However, precise figures were not provided.
00:46 The government expressed its profound condolences to the bereaved families and the people of
00:51 Mali.
00:52 Additionally, an appeal was made to communities residing in proximity to mining sites and
00:57 gold miners to diligently adhere to safety protocols and restrict their operations to
01:02 designated areas allocated for gold panning.
01:05 Mali, classified among the world's economically challenged nations, stands as one of Africa's
01:11 prominent gold producers.
01:12 The country's gold mining sites frequently witness perilous landslides, posing challenges
01:17 for authorities in managing artisanal mining activities.
01:21 In 2022, Mali achieved a gold production of 72.2 tonnes, with the precious metal playing
01:27 a significant role in the nation's economic landscape.
01:31 Former Minister of Mines Lamin Sido Traore reported in March of the previous year that
01:36 gold contributed substantially, constituting 25 per cent of the national budget, 75 per
01:42 cent of export earnings and 10 per cent of the gross domestic product.
01:46 For more information on the gold mining in Mali, visit www.globalonenessproject.org.
02:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
Comments