18 dead in goldmine collapse in southern Niger, rescue operation underway

Rescue operations are still underway in southern Niger where the collapse of a goldmine claimed 18 lives on Monday.

At least 18 people died when an artisanal goldmine collapsed in southern Niger near the border with Nigeria, the local mayor said on Monday. Breaking news: Reports that at least 20 people have died in a goldmine incident in Niger, leaving dozens of them trapped pic.twitter.com/MNZf4MLbSp

"The provisional death toll is 18 people, whom we buried this morning," Adamou Gueraou, mayor of Dan-Issa district, told AFP of Sunday's disaster.