More than 40 people, mostly women, were killed after an illegal gold mine collapsed in Mali on Saturday. The collapse took place near Kéniéba, in Mali's western, gold-rich Kayes region.

The accident took place in an open-pit area people had gone into in search of gold. Informal mining is a common and dangerous practice in much of West Africa.

A gold mine has collapsed in the east of Mali, leaving a preliminary death toll of 42 and many injured, according to Malian national television and local authorities.

An accident in Mali's Kayes region has reportedly resulted in the deaths of 43 people, primarily women, following the collapse of an artisanal gold mine. The incident occurred near Kenieba, as confirmed by Taoule Camara,

The collapse of an illegally operated gold mine in western Mali on Saturday has killed 48 people, a local official said on Sunday (Feb 16).