4 killed in gold mine collapse in central Laos

Four local people were killed after a gold mine collapsed on Tuesday night in Lao central Bolikhamxay province's Khamkeuth district, reported local online newspaper Vientiane Times on Thursday.

All the victims, aged between 20-30, were residents of Nathone village in the province, some 130 km east of capital Vientiane by aerial distance.

They were among 12 people who had excavated their rice field in search of gold during that night, said the report.

The four bodies have been then recovered and sent to their families. The other eight people in the group were not digging for gold when the accident occurred.

District Police Officer Major Kongchanh Xaypanya said people from villages in the area often set up temporary gold mines at the end of their harvest season in the hope of finding gold and generating extra income for their families.

The Major stated that gold prospecting and mining has been carried out by locals for a long time with old stories claiming to have unearthed big discoveries.

Major Kongchanh noted the tragic incident was the first to befall the village since locals began digging makeshift goldmines in their rice fields.

Following the tragedy, district authorities have now ordered local people to stop digging for gold, the officer said. Endit