At Least 28 Killed in Landslide at Illegal Gold Mine in Angola

At least 28 people were killed and four rescued after a landslide struck an illegal gold mining site in Angola’s Bengo province. Authorities said search operations have ended, with victims aged between 16 and 35. The tragedy highlights ongoing dangers in unregulated mining in the country.

At least 28 people have been killed after a landslide struck an illegal gold mining site in Angola’s northwestern Bengo province, in what authorities say is one of the deadliest accidents linked to informal mining in the country.
Local civil protection and fire service officials confirmed on Sunday that rescue teams had recovered multiple bodies from the site following the collapse. Four people were rescued alive, but officials said search operations have now been completed.
Authorities reported that the victims of the Saturday disaster were aged between 16 and 35 years old, highlighting the vulnerability of young people working in dangerous informal mining conditions.
Illegal mining has long been a safety and security issue in Angola. While it was historically associated mainly with the diamond sector, recent government efforts to diversify the mining industry have contributed to a rise in artisanal and informal extraction of other minerals, particularly gold.
Angola, one of Africa’s major diamond-producing countries, has been expanding into metals such as copper and gold as part of its broader economic strategy. This shift comes amid falling diamond prices and increased competition from synthetic diamonds, which has affected global demand for natural stones.
The incident underscores the ongoing risks faced by workers in illegal and unregulated mining sites, where lack of safety controls, unstable ground conditions, and poor equipment often lead to deadly accidents such as landslides and cave-ins.