Mine collapse kills 27 in north Afghanistan
A coal mine is pictured in Samangan province, north of Kabul on August 7, 2012 (AFP Photo/Qais Usyan)At least 27 miners in Afghanistan have been killed in a collapse in a coal mine, officials said on Sunday, in an accident likely to reinforce worries about a sector that many Afghans hope can underpin the country\’s development.
Authorities say the accident happened Saturday in Samangan province\’s Ruyi Du Ab district.
Workplace safety standards are poor in Afghanistan, as in many developing countries.
The government hopes to develop a wealth of mineral resources on its territory, a challenging goal as it battles a Taliban insurgency.
In December, 11 miners were reported to have been killed in a similar incident in the northern province of Baghlan.
Afghanistan is known to have vast reserves of oil, gas, copper, cobalt, gold and lithium.
The country is also known to have a wider array of mineral resources; in 2010, the Afghan ministry of mines claimed its reserves were worth nearly $1tn
Source: Agencies
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