Tragedy struck a gemstone mine in northern Afghanistan this week, claiming the lives of four workers. The miners suffocated after inhaling toxic fumes, a local official confirmed on Saturday.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The fatal accident occurred in the Khash District of Badakhshan province. According to Ehsanullah Kamgar, the spokesman for the provincial police, the workers died on Friday while searching for precious stones underground. Kamgar told AFP that the victims "died due to suffocation caused by fumes emitted from a stone-crushing machine" operating in the confined space.
Unregulated Industry and Frequent Accidents
Authorities have not clarified whether the mine was operating officially or was an illegal site. This lack of oversight is common in a country where fatal mining accidents are frequent. Miners often labour without adequate safety equipment or protective gear, making them vulnerable to collapses, gas leaks, and other hazards.
Afghanistan's terrain is rich in resources. The nation mines:
- Marble and various minerals
- Gold and precious stones
- Coal
According to assessments by the US and UN from 2010 and 2013, resources like copper and lithium buried across Afghanistan's rocky landscape are estimated to be worth a staggering one trillion dollars.
A Pattern of Peril
This latest incident is not isolated. It follows a similar tragedy just months earlier. In July 2025, six miners were killed and 18 others injured in a coal mine collapse in the northern province of Baghlan. These repeated accidents underscore the dire need for enforced safety regulations and modern mining practices in Afghanistan's valuable but dangerous extractive sector.
