Guinea Gold Mine Collapse: At Least 11 Dead

At least 11 people have died following the collapse of an artisanal gold mine in eastern Guinea. The accident occurred near the community of Kontianakoro.

According to the Red Cross, the victims include 10 women and one man. The women were working in a gallery when a landslide occurred. Their bodies were recovered hours later.

A young man succumbed to his injuries on Thursday. The victims had gone to the mine to clean and process mineral residues, a common practice in the area.

The wall of a gallery collapsed, burying the victims. Working conditions in artisanal mines are often precarious, with no safety measures. Similar accidents often happen in the area.

The mayor of Kontianakoro reported that the ten women were from Burkina Faso. Guinea is rich in minerals, but a large part of the population lives in poverty.