A GOLD mine collapse in eastern Mali’s Kenieba district over the weekend killed dozens and injured many more, according to local reports.

The disaster, which occurred in Bilali Koto in the commune of Dabia, is the second major mining accident in the country this year.

Malian television reported the collapse late on Saturday, with a provisional death toll of 42.

Kenieba prefect Mohamed Dicko confirmed yesterday that this number was likely final.

Authorities are still investigating whether the mine was operating legally.

This is the second fatal mining accident in Mali within a month. On January 29, a landslide in the Koulikoro region killed several gold miners, mostly women.

In January last year, another unregulated mine collapsed near the capital, Bamako, killing more than 70 people.

Mali is one of Africa’s top three gold producers, making up more than 80 per cent of the country’s total exports in 2021.

The mining sector provides income for more than two million people, over 10 per cent of the population.

But there are growing concerns that profits from unregulated mining could be funding extremist groups operating in the region.