Ten Miners Trapped After Gold Mine Tunnel Collapses in Northern Afghanistan

Ten miners have been trapped after a tunnel collapsed at a gold mine in Takhar province in northern Afghanistan, according to local media reports cited by the Anadolu Agency.

A rescue operation is currently underway at the site, though details on the cause of the collapse, the condition of the trapped workers, or the expected timeline for the rescue effort have not yet been made public.

What is known so far

Takhar, a mountainous province bordering Tajikistan, is home to a number of small-scale and informal mining operations, including gold mining sites that often rely on manual tunneling methods. Such operations have previously been linked to safety concerns, as many lack the reinforced infrastructure and safety equipment found in larger, more formally regulated mines.

Afghanistan's mining sector has faced heightened scrutiny in recent years amid reports of accidents at both licensed and unlicensed sites across the country's mineral-rich provinces. Rescue operations in remote and mountainous areas can be complicated by difficult terrain and limited access to specialized equipment.

No official casualty figures have been released, and authorities have not yet confirmed whether the trapped miners have been in contact with rescuers. This is a developing story, and further details are expected to emerge as the rescue operation continues.

Local and international mining safety advocates have repeatedly called for stronger oversight of small-scale mining operations in the region, though it remains unclear whether the collapsed tunnel was part of a formally licensed operation.