At least dozens of people, primarily women, have tragically lost their lives after a gold mine collapsed in western Mali on Saturday.

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Officials reported that the victims had ventured into an abandoned open-pit mine left by industrial miners, hoping to collect small pieces of gold.

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Rescue operations continued late into the evening in Bilali Koto, with emergency crews and volunteers working tirelessly to rescue survivors.

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Local authorities have confirmed that many others sustained injuries, and the death toll is expected to climb further.

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This disaster sheds light on the growing dangers of unregulated mining, a practice that has significantly increased in recent years.

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This marks Mali’s second deadly mining incident in under three weeks, following a landslide at a similar artisanal mine last month, which also claimed the lives of several women.

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Mali, one of the largest gold producers globally, still has a largely unregulated mining sector.

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