This archive report was first published on 9 May 2021.
Guinea's north-eastern Siguiri region has been rocked by a devastating landslide at a clandestine gold mine, claiming the lives of at least 15 people.
According to reports, overhanging rocks collapsed on Saturday morning, crushing some victims and burying others inside the mine.
Government officials have announced an investigation into the 'exact circumstances and causes of the tragedy', with a local Red Cross official confirming that two women were among the dead.
Speaking to news site Guinee360, Djanko Dansoko attributed the disaster to the miners striking too far into the earth, which 'gave under' due to its unstable state.
The mine in question is one of hundreds of unofficial 'artisanal' mines around Siguiri, where gold is laboriously panned by hand and safety standards are notoriously low.
Located near the village of Tatakourou, approximately 40km from the city centre of Siguiri, the mine has a history of tragic incidents, including a landslide two years ago that claimed the lives of 17 miners.
Guinea's gold-rich terrain attracts clandestine miners from across West Africa, including Mali and Senegal.
