About 60 people were killed and dozens more wounded yesterday, in an explosion at an informal gold mining site in southwest Burkina Faso.
According to witnesses, the explosion is believed to have been caused by chemicals used to treat gold stocked at the site.
Marcena Hunter, senior analyst at mining department said, the limited regulation of the artisanal and small-scale mining sector contributes to increased risks that can be very dangerous, including the use of explosives which are often smuggled into the country and used illegally.
In October 2019, armed groups attacked a gold mining site in the north of the country, leaving 20 people dead. A month later, 37 civilians were killed and more than 60 wounded when gunmen ambushed a convoy transporting workers of Canadian gold miner, Semafo.
