In yet another tragic incident highlighting the dangers of mining in the country, four miners died of asphyxiation in Badakhshan province, northern Afghanistan, while attempting to extract gemstones. A local official reported on Saturday that the incident occurred as a result of the miners inhaling toxic fumes inside the mining site.
Details of the incident in Badakhshan
The spokesman for the Badakhshan provincial police, Ehsanullah Kamar, told AFP that the tragedy occurred specifically in the Khash district. The security official explained that the workers were searching for gemstones when they were overcome by fumes and emissions from a stone-crushing machine operating inside a tunnel, resulting in their immediate deaths. Authorities have not yet provided a definitive explanation as to whether the mine was operating legally and with a license, or if it was one of the many unlicensed mines that are prevalent in the region.
A history of accidents and a lack of safety standards
This incident is not isolated within the Afghan mining sector; fatal accidents are frequent in Afghan mines. This is primarily due to workers' reliance on extremely rudimentary methods, the near-total absence of occupational safety equipment, and poor ventilation in deep tunnels. Thousands work in this dangerous sector without engineering supervision, driven by economic necessity and the search for sustenance in harsh living conditions.
In a related incident, the northern province of Baghlan witnessed a horrific accident that killed six workers and injured 18 others following the collapse of a coal mine, confirming the urgent need to regulate this vital sector and impose strict control over safety procedures.
Afghanistan's buried treasures: immense wealth and high risks
Afghanistan possesses a unique geological location that makes it one of the richest countries in terms of untapped natural resources. The province of Badakhshan, where the incident occurred, is historically renowned as a major source of the finest lapis lazuli, emeralds, and rubies—precious stones that have been transported along the Silk Road for centuries.
According to previous estimates by the United States and the United Nations between 2010 and 2013, the mineral resources buried beneath Afghanistan's bedrock are valued at approximately one trillion US dollars. These riches include vast reserves of copper, lithium, gold, and marble, as well as coal and precious stones. Despite this immense wealth, which could be a major economic driver for the country, its extraction is still often carried out using haphazard methods that endanger workers' lives and waste a significant portion of the economic value of these resources.
