Landslide at illegal gold mine in Mali kills at least 48

At least 48 people were killed in a landslide at an illegal gold mining site in western Mali on Thursday, local officials told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

“By 6 p.m., the death toll had reached 48 due to the collapse,” a police official said. The incident occurred in the Bilali Koto region, according to a local authority cited by AFP. “Most of the victims were women,” the official added, noting that one of the deceased was a mother carrying her baby.

The affected site was previously operated by a Chinese company, which has since abandoned the location.