At least 28 people have been killed after a landslide struck an illegal gold mining site in northwestern Bengo Province, according to local authorities, in what has become one of the country’s deadliest informal mining accidents.
The province’s civil protection and fire service confirmed that four people were rescued from the site and that search operations have now been completed.
Officials said the victims of Saturday’s disaster were between the ages of 16 and 35, highlighting the vulnerability of young people involved in informal mining activities.
Illegal mining in Angola has historically been linked to diamonds, but authorities say recent economic diversification has led to a rise in artisanal mining of other minerals, particularly gold.
The country, a major diamond producer, is increasingly expanding into metals such as copper and gold as global diamond prices fall and demand for synthetic alternatives rises.
Experts say the growth of unregulated mining sites has increased safety risks, especially in remote areas where oversight is limited and enforcement is difficult.
The latest tragedy underscores ongoing concerns about illegal mining operations and the lack of safety standards in informal extraction sites across the region.
