KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – At least three mine workers died, and two others were wounded after a landslide hit a gemstone mine in Afghanistan’s eastern Nuristan province, local sources said Friday.
The incident occurred on Thursday evening in the Pachigram area of Barg-e Matal district, where miners extract precious stones including beryl, kunzite, and morganite, according to the sources.
The victims and the injured were residents of Barg-e Matal district, according to the sources. The injured workers were taken to a nearby health facility for treatment, but further details about their condition were not immediately available.
Local Taliban authorities in Nuristan have not commented on the incident.
Landslides and other mining accidents have repeatedly killed workers in Afghanistan, where many mines operate with limited safety measures and outdated extraction methods. The use of traditional mining practices and a lack of protective equipment have been cited as contributing factors in previous incidents.
The accident comes as parts of Nuristan have been affected by heavy rainfall and flash floods in recent days. According to figures from the United Nations and Taliban officials, at least 26 people have been killed, more than 50 injured, and several others remain missing following floods in the province since Monday.
The floods have damaged or destroyed dozens of homes, affected farmland, and displaced many families, adding further strain to communities facing poverty and limited access to basic services.
The United Nations has described Afghanistan as one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with millions of people requiring food, shelter, healthcare, and emergency assistance amid significant funding shortfalls that hamper relief efforts across the country.
