Congo: At least 60 dead in illegal mine

At least 60 miners were killed when a mine tunnel collapsed in a remote part of northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and local armed groups active cause problems in the rescue efforts, officials said Thursday the country. The accident occurred Monday in the area in the province of Oriental Mampasa . The miners were digging for gold in shafts up to 100 meters depth said provincial chief of the mines. He added that the collapse was caused by a landslide. Hundreds of thousands of people in eastern Congo are working in illegal mines where safety precautions taken are almost nonexistent and accidents are common. The area where the mine has passed into the hands of the local rebel group - known as Mai-Mai-Morgkan hampering rescue efforts. Armed groups in eastern Congo over the use of groups of people in horrific conditions for the illegal mining of tin and gold to help finance their activities, despite international efforts to stop this practice .