BAMAKO: At least 48 people were killed in the collapse of an illegally operated gold mine in western Mali on Saturday, authorities and local sources said.

Mali, one of Africa`s leading gold producers, is among the world`s poorest countries.

Mining sites are regularly the scene of deadly landslides and accidents.

Authorities have struggled to control unregulated mining of the precious metal in the country.

Following the latest collapse, a police official said the death toll was 48.

`Some of the victims fell into the water. Among them was a woman with her baby on her back.

A local official confirmed the cave-in, while the Kenieba gold miners` association also put the death toll at 48.

The search for victims was ongoing, the head of an environmental organisation said.

Saturday`s accident took place at an abandoned site formerly operated by a Chinese company, sources said.-AFP