About 60 people were killed and dozens injured on Monday in an explosion at an unofficial gold mining site in southwestern Burkina Faso, state television reported, citing local officials.
The cause of the explosion in Pony province is not yet known, Pony High Commissioner Antoine Duamba told state television.
A photo shown on state television shows a large explosion site with downed trees and destroyed tin houses. The bodies lay on the ground, covered with mats.
It is still unclear what kind of gold mining was carried out in this area. Burkina Faso hosts several large gold mines run by international companies, as well as hundreds of smaller unofficial sites that operate without supervision or regulation.
Children often work in these so-called artisanal mines, and accidents are frequent.
Burkina Faso, one of the world's least developed countries, is under attack from Islamist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State who seek control of mining operations as a means to finance their violent attacks.
Monday's explosion occurred hundreds of miles away from where these groups normally operate, and there was no sign that Islamist militants were involved.
