One person died and another was injured in a mine collapse in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. The incident occurred at a sapphire mine in the Mamand Tor Nawo area of Spin Ghar district. The victims were buried under debris and rocks, with security forces taking the injured person to a nearby healthcare facility for treatment.
In a separate incident on January 9, four miners died from carbon monoxide poisoning in a precious stones mine in Badakhshan. Toxic gas buildup in the underground area led to the suffocation of the workers. The bodies were recovered and handed over to their families by authorities.
Another tragedy struck on December 29, 2025, when three miners lost their lives in a gold mine collapse in Badakhshan province. The incident, which occurred in Kisham district, involved workers extracting gold from a small mine. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the collapse, as mining accidents are common in Afghanistan due to informal operations and lack of safety measures.
Mining accidents are frequent in Afghanistan due to informal operations and inadequate safety standards. The lack of monitoring, unregulated excavation, and poor implementation of safety measures contribute to these incidents, especially in remote areas.
