3 Killed in Gold Mine Flood in Afghanistan

Three miners, including a father and his son, have died after a traditional gold mine was flooded in northern Afghanistan, according to local police.

The incident occurred in the Shahr-e Buzurg district of Badakhshan province, where water suddenly inundated the mine, trapping workers underground. Ihsanullah Kamgar, a spokesperson for the provincial police, confirmed on Friday that the exact number of miners still trapped remains unclear. Security forces are continuing search and rescue operations to locate any possible survivors and evacuate them safely.

Fatal accidents are a frequent occurrence in Afghanistan’s informal mining sector. Poor safety standards, lack of modern equipment, and illegal extraction carried out by untrained workers often lead to deadly incidents, particularly among impoverished labourers who rely on mining for their livelihood.

The tragedy highlights ongoing concerns about safety conditions in Afghanistan’s mining industry, where regulation remains limited and enforcement is weak, leaving workers highly vulnerable to such disasters.