A tragedy occurred yesterday within the perimeter of the AfriGold mining company, located west of the village of Gamba-Gamba, in the commune of Bembou. A landslide on the site claimed several lives. The death toll, initially reported as four, rose this morning with the discovery of another victim in the rubble, bringing the provisional number of fatalities to five.

Since the accident, rescue teams and local volunteers have been tirelessly continuing search operations in extremely difficult conditions. Unstable piles of earth, the depth of the rubble, and the lack of suitable equipment are significantly slowing down the operation.

The atmosphere around the site is heavy. Dozens of parents, relatives, and local residents are gathered near the area, anxiously awaiting any news. Many have had no news of their children or loved ones since yesterday.

“My son left yesterday morning as usual. Since then, I have had no news. I have gone around the site several times, no one can tell me if he is among the victims or if he is injured somewhere,” confides a mother from Gamba-Gamba, her voice trembling.

Another parent, visibly distressed by the wait, explained: "We don't even know where to begin our search. We're asked to wait, but it's very difficult. We at least want to know if our children are alive."

The search for victims is complicated by several factors. According to witnesses at the scene, some people were in remote areas of the site at the time of the landslide, making it difficult to locate them. Furthermore, the lack of an accurate register of those present at the time of the disaster makes identifying the victims particularly challenging.

"There is no list, no meeting point. Everyone is looking for their loved one blindly," laments a young man whose brother is missing.

The residents of Kharakheyna and the surrounding area are mobilized to find any possible survivors. Furthermore, measures are being taken to strengthen search efforts and secure the area to prevent another accident, according to Aliou Diallo, a local resident.

Meanwhile, hope is mixed with fear for the families who, since yesterday, have been living through hours of unbearable anguish, clinging to the slightest sign that might bring them news of their loved ones. The search continues. The death toll remains provisional.