Image copyright AFP Image caption Afghanistan has vast mineral wealth, including gold, but many mines are badly maintained (file photo)

At least 30 people have been killed in the collapse of a gold mine in north-eastern Afghanistan, officials say.

The collapse occurred in the Kohistan district of Badakhshan province.

Villagers had reportedly dug a 60m (220ft) deep but makeshift shaft in a river bed to hunt for gold and were caught in its collapse.

Afghanistan has vast resources of minerals but many of the mines are old and poorly maintained, creating severe safety issues.

Villagers were reportedly using an excavator at the site when the mine collapsed.

At least seven other people were injured, officials say.

Kohistan district chief Rostam Raghi told the BBC's Afghan service: "Locals rushed to the scene and managed to rescue only 13 workers. Dozens of others, including some children, died."

Nik Mohammad Nazari, spokesman for the provincial governor, told Agence France-Presse: "The villagers have been involved in this business for decades with no government control over them.

"We have sent a rescue team to the area, but villagers have already started removing bodies from the site."

A spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority told AFP the families of the dead would receive 50,000 afghanis ($660; £520).

Afghanistan's vast resources remain largely untapped due to the conflict with the Taliban.

The conflict has seen the rise in illegal mining both by villagers and Taliban fighters who use it as a key source of revenue.</s>At least 30 people have been killed in a gold mine collapse in northeastern Afghanistan.

Another seven were injured in the incident in the Kohistan district of Badakhshan province, district governor Mohammed Rustam Raghi said.

Villagers had dug a 60m (200ft) deep shaft in a river bed to search for the gold and were inside when the walls caved in.

"The people were using an excavator to dig a big hole in the river when it collapsed, trapping dozens of workers," Mr Raghi said.

"At least 30 people have been killed and seven wounded."

It was not clear why the shaft collapsed.

However, the provincial governor's spokesman, Nik Mohammad Nazari, told AFP the miners were not professionals.

"The villagers have been involved in this business for decades with no government control over them," Mr Nazari said.

"We have sent a rescue team to the area, but villagers have already started removing bodies from the site."

Defence ministry helicopters have been dispatched to deliver cash to the families of the victims and airlift the wounded to hospitals, said Hashmat Bahaduri, spokesman for the national disaster management authority.

He said that families of the wounded would receive 10,000 afghanis (£104) in compensation, while those of the dead would get 50,000 afghanis (£521).

Badakhshan is a remote, mountainous province in northeast Afghanistan bordering Tajikistan, China and Pakistan.

Illegal mining is common in Afghanistan, which is rich in resources, with the Taliban relying on the sector for much of its revenue.

It has over 1,400 mineral fields, containing barite, chromite, coal, copper and gold among many other minerals.</s>Villagers had dug a 60-metre deep shaft in a river bed to search for gold. They were inside when the walls fell in. (Representational Image)

Kunduz: At least 30 people were killed when a gold mine collapsed in northeastern Afghanistan on Sunday, officials said, in the latest tragedy to strike the war-torn country.

Another seven were injured in the incident in Kohistan district of Badakhshan province, district governor Mohammad Rustam Raghi told AFP.

Villagers had dug a 60-metre deep shaft in a river bed to search for gold. They were inside when the walls fell in. "The people were using an excavator to dig a big hole in the river when it collapsed, trapping dozens of workers," Raghi said.

"At least 30 people have been killed and seven wounded."

It was not clear why the shaft collapsed, but the provincial governor's spokesman Nik Mohammad Nazari told AFP the miners were not professionals.

"The villagers have been involved in this business for decades with no government control over them," Nazari said.

"We have sent a rescue team to the area, but villagers have already started removing bodies from the site."

Badakhshan is a remote, mountainous province in northeast Afghanistan bordering Tajikistan, China and Pakistan.

The impoverished region is prone to landslides, particularly in the colder months when heavy snow blankets the province.

Illegal mining is common in resource-rich Afghanistan, with the Taliban relying on the sector for much of its revenue.

But most of the country's minerals remain untapped as the raging conflict and lack of regulation deter international miners from exploiting the huge reserves.</s>At least 30 people have died as a gold mine collapsed in Afghanistan’s north-eastern Badakhshan province, local media report, citing officials. The rescuers managed to save 15 people but many of them suffered serious injuries and are in a critical condition, a provincial governor’s spokesman told Tolo News. More might still be trapped under the rubble. Heavy snowfall that had earlier blocked roads to 12 districts in the province is believed to have caused the cave in.</s>At least 30 people have been killed and others were injured Sunday after a gold mine in a remote area of northeastern Afghanistan collapsed, local authorities said.

"People were working in a gold exploring factory when it collapsed in Kohistan district of northern Badakhshan province," said spokesperson for the provincial governor, Nik Nazari.</s>KUNDUZ (Afghanistan)
• At least 30 people were killed when a gold mine collapsed in north-eastern Afghanistan yesterday, officials said, in the latest tragedy to strike the war-torn country.

Another seven were injured in the incident in Kohistan district of Badakhshan province, district governor Mohammad Rustam Raghi said.

Villagers had dug a 60m-deep shaft in a river bed to search for gold. They were inside when the walls fell in.

"The people were using an excavator to dig a big hole in the river when it collapsed, trapping dozens of workers," Mr Raghi said.

"At least 30 people have been killed, and seven wounded."

It was not clear why the shaft collapsed, but the provincial governor's spokesman Nik Mohammad Nazari said the miners were not professionals.

"The villagers have been involved in this business for decades, with no government control over them," Mr Nazari said. "We have sent a rescue team to the area, but villagers have already started removing bodies from the site."

Defence ministry helicopters have been dispatched to deliver cash to the victims' families and airlift the wounded to hospitals, said Mr Hashmat Bahaduri, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority. He confirmed the casualty toll, but warned that the figures could change.

Families of the wounded will receive 10,000 afghanis (S$181) in compensation, while those of the dead will get 50,000 afghanis, Mr Bahaduri said.

Badakhshan is a remote, mountainous province in north-east Afghanistan bordering Tajikistan, China and Pakistan.

The impoverished region is prone to landslides, particularly in the colder months, when heavy snow blankets the province.</s>Gold mine collapse: At least 30 workers killed in Afghanistan

Kabul: At least 30 workers were killed in gold mine collapse in the northeastern Afghanistan on Sunday.

Officials said it is the latest tragedy to strike the war-torn country.

The officials said seven others were injured in the incident in Kohistan district of Badakhshan province, district governor Mohammad Rustam Raghi told news agencies.

According to reporters villagers had dug a 60-metre (200-feet) deep shaft in a river bed to search for gold. They were inside when the walls caved in.

The villagers have been involved in this business for decades with no government control over them, officials said.

Badakhshan is lying in a mountainous province in northeast Afghanistan bordering Tajikistan, China and Pakistan.

This is an impoverished region prone to landslides and other natural disasters during winter.</s>30 people killed in Afghanistan a gold mine collapse. 7 were injured and not much serious. Villagers had dug a 60-metre (200-feet) deep shaft in a riverbed to search for gold. They were inside when the walls fell in. They are not sure how the wall collapsed. It is said that the miners are not professionals.

District governor Mohammad Rustam Raghi said that the villagers have been involved in this business for decades with no government control over them.</s>At Least 30 Workers Killed In Afghanistan Gold Mine Collapse

At least 30 workers were killed and several others injured when a gold mine in northeastern Afghanistan collapsed Sunday, local officials said.

Nek Mohammad Nazari, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told Agence France-Presse the victims were illegally searching for gold and had dug deep in a riverbed in the Kohistan district of Badakhshan province when the walls caved in.

Local villagers and the Taliban alike rely heavily on illegal mining for revenue in the region.

"The villagers have been involved in this business for decades with no government control over them," Nazari said. "We have sent a rescue team to the area, but villagers have already started removing bodies from the site."

Sanaullah Rohani, a spokesman for the police chief in Badakhshan, told the Associated Press about 50 people were working in the mine at the time of the collapse and a number of victims are in critical condition. Rohani said the tragedy was caused by a landslide.

Landslides are common in the remote, mountainous area, often caused by heavy rain and snow. In 2014, a pair of huge mudslides killed hundreds of people in Badakhshan province. As many as 2,500 people reportedly may have died in that disaster.</s>At least another seven were injured

At least 30 people were killed when a gold mine collapsed in northeastern Afghanistan today, officials said, in the latest tragedy to strike the war-torn country.

At least another seven were injured in the incident in Kohistan district of Badakhshan province, district governor Mohammad Rustam Raghi told AFP.

Villagers had dug a 60-metre deep shaft in a river bed to search for gold. They were inside when the walls fell in.

“The people were using an excavator to dig a big hole in the river when it collapsed, trapping dozens of workers,” Raghi said.

“At least 30 people have been killed and seven wounded.”

It was not clear why the shaft collapsed, but the provincial governor’s spokesman Nik Mohammad Nazari said the miners were not professionals.

“The villagers have been involved in this business for decades with no government control over them,” Nazari said.

“We have sent a rescue team to the area, but villagers have already started removing bodies from the site.”
At least 30 people are killed after a gold mine collapses in north-eastern Afghanistan.