Local authorities on Monday announced that 28 people were killed when a landslide struck an illegal gold mining ‌site in Angola.

According to the authorities this was the deadliest illegal mining accident in Angola, northwestern Bengo province.

The province’s civil protection and fire service said four people were rescued from ⁠the site adding that search operations had been completed.

The deceased from ​Saturday’s accident were aged between ​16 and 35 years old, authorities said.

Illegal mining ‌in ⁠Angola had historically been associated with the diamond industry.

The country’s mining diversification drive has fuelled a boom ⁠in artisanal mining of other metals such as gold.

Angola, a major diamond producer is ⁠diversifying into metals such as copper and gold as diamond prices ⁠fall and synthetic diamonds rise. (Reuters/NAN)