Thirteen individuals lost their lives in a tragic incident as a gold mine collapsed in Liberia, according to the National Disaster Management Agency’s report to media on Wednesday. Efforts are underway to locate several others who are still missing following the collapse.
The incident occurred on Monday night at a mine situated in the central region of the country, trapping approximately 25 miners underground, as stated by Archievego Doe, spokesperson for the agency, in communication with AFP. Among those affected, four individuals have been rescued alive, while the remains of 13 victims have been recovered.
Liberia, grappling with significant poverty, sees many individuals engaging in artisanal mining activities for gold and diamonds in areas beyond official oversight. The event adds to the toll of similar incidents across West Africa, echoing the dangers faced by miners working in precarious conditions.
This includes a grim reminder from January when over 60 lives were claimed in a gold mine collapse in southwest Mali. Furthermore, in 2020, Liberia experienced another mining tragedy, with around 50 casualties in a collapse in the northwest region.