By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

A landslide in Afghanistan’s northern Badakhshan province has killed at least 30 people, an official confirmed on Sunday.

Syed Abdullah Humayoun, director of National Disasters Management Authority in Badakhshan, told Anadolu Agency the incident took place at a gold mine in the Shepo area of the Kohistan district.

The death toll may rise as many people were present at the time when the accident took place, Humayoun said.

The mountainous province is prone to earthquakes and landslides.

According to the local Azadi Radio, the locals were busy in self-styled gold laundering in a fragile tunnel that collapsed at around 11.00 a.m. (0630 GMT) on Sunday causing the casualties.