Four workers killed in gemstone mines in Afghanistan: Details
In yet another tragic incident highlighting the grave dangers of the unregulated mining sector, four miners died of asphyxiation in Badakhshan province in northern Afghanistan. Local authorities reported on Saturday that the victims succumbed to toxic fumes while extracting gemstones underground.
Details of the incident in Badakhshan
Ehsanullah Kamar, a spokesman for the Badakhshan provincial police, told AFP that the incident occurred specifically in the Khash district. The security official explained that the workers were using a stone-crushing machine inside a narrow underground tunnel, which resulted in the emission of thick fumes that depleted their oxygen, causing them to suffocate instantly. Authorities have not yet clarified whether the mine was operating under a legal license or was part of the unregulated mining operations prevalent in these remote areas.
Badakhshan: A reservoir of wealth and dangers
Badakhshan province is one of the richest geological regions in Afghanistan, historically renowned for its lapis lazuli mines, which have been exported worldwide for millennia, as well as for emeralds and rubies. Despite this immense natural wealth, the rugged, mountainous terrain and lack of infrastructure make extraction a perilous task, often carried out using rudimentary methods that disregard even the most basic occupational safety standards.
Afghanistan's Buried Riches: Hopes and Challenges
This incident occurs within a broader context concerning Afghanistan's mining sector, which is seen as a lifeline for the struggling economy. According to previous estimates by the US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) and the United Nations between 2010 and 2013, Afghanistan's untapped mineral resources are valued at approximately one trillion US dollars. These resources include vast reserves of copper, gold, iron ore, and rare earth elements such as lithium, a vital component in the production of batteries for electric vehicles and smartphones.
Lack of safety standards and frequent accidents
Despite its enormous economic potential, Afghanistan's mining sector is plagued by chaos. Driven by poverty and unemployment, many locals resort to digging unsupported tunnels and using dilapidated equipment to extract minerals. Landslides and suffocation are frequent occurrences in these mines, particularly in the north. In similar incidents in the past, provinces like Baghlan and Samangan have witnessed disasters that claimed dozens of lives. Workers often operate without protective helmets or ventilation, turning their search for a livelihood into a potentially fatal journey.
