Originally published on September 15, 2013 <br /><br />At least 27 miners were killed in a collapse in a coal mine in Afghanistan's northern province of Samangan on Saturday evening (September 15). It is believed at least 13 other miners could still be trapped in the mine.<br /><br />The miners were reportedly working in an underground coal mine in Abkhorak coal mine in Ruyi Du Ab district when part of the mine collapsed on them.<br /><br />According to Reuters, "rescue teams have recovered 27 dead miners and there are 22 more wounded," Azizi said. District police chief Akram Behzad said all trapped miners had been rescued.<br /><br />"Afghanistan is estimated to be sitting on as much as $1 trillion in untapped mineral resources but decades of war and instability have kept most investors away.<br /><br />"The government says it expects to make as much as $4 billion a year in mining revenues in the decade from 2014, when most Western forces are due to leave, compared with less than $150 million from its resources sector last year.<br /><br />"The U.S. Pentagon said in a in 2010 briefing paper Afghanistan's main resources were iron ore, with an estimated value of nearly $421 billion, and copper deposits valued at $273 billion.<br /><br />"But insecurity has hampered investment. Lat year, work was halted at China Metallurgical Group's $3 billion Aynak copper mine in the eastern province of Logar following attacks.<br /><br />"Safety standards are also often lax in Afghanistan, with some mines employing children as young as 10 despite government regulations forbidding child labor, the government has said."<br /><br />The collapse is the latest accident to hit Afghanistan's mining industry. It was reported that 11 miners were killed in a similar incident in the northern province of Baghlan last December.<br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />TomoNews is your daily source for top animated news. We've combined animation and video footage with a snarky personality to bring you the biggest and best stories from around the world.<br /><br />For news that's fun and never boring, visit our channel:<br />https://www.youtube.com/user/TomoNewsUS<br /><br />Subscribe to stay updated on all the top stories:<br />http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=TomoNewsUS<br /><br />Stay connected with us here:<br />Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TomoNewsUS<br />Twitter @tomonewsus http://www.twitter.com/TomoNewsUS<br />Google+ http://gplus.to/TomoNewsUS
