Gold mines in Afghanistan, 30 dead people (Photo)

At least 30 people were killed after the collapse in a gold mine in northeastern Afghanistan, officials say. The decline occurred in the Badakshan province's Kohistan district.

Villagers are said to have dug a shaft of 60 meters [60 m] in a riverbed to find the gold and remained within its collapse.

Afghanistan has huge mineral resources, but many of the mines are old and badly maintained, creating serious security problems.

At least seven other people were injured in the latest event, officials say.

Nick Mohammad Nazari, spokesman for the provincial governor, told the French-Press agency: “Villagers have been involved in this business for decades without any government control over them”.

“We have sent a rescue team to the area, but villagers are already beginning to pull troops out of the country”. /Periscopi