Eight artisanal miners were killed on Monday in Seba Boru Woreda of the Guji Zone in the Oromia region after a tunnel they were digging for gold collapsed, the woreda administrator said.

The incident occurred at 3 p.m. at an open-pit gold mine in the village of Katchia, the Seba Boru Woreda communication office head told VOA Amharic.

Most of the victims were young men from the area, who had been digging for leftover gold particles.

Volunteers spent about five hours using machines and traditional equipment to try to rescue the miners. However, the individuals were found dead, and their bodies were retrieved.

Artisanal mining is a common activity in the region, drawing young people from the Konso and Guji Zone. It has become increasingly lucrative in recent years, driven by growing demand for metals and rising prices.