Khartoum, Sudan (CNN) -- A gold mine in the western Sudanese state of Darfur collapsed this week, killing scores of people and leaving many still unaccounted for, an official says. "Fifty-two bodies have so far been recovered," said Yaqub al-Damuki, minister of information for the Darfur Regional Authority. "But the search is still going on." State-run Ashorooq TV, quoting a local official, reported Thursday that the collapse killed more than 60 people. It said the accident occurred after people dug in dangerous areas of the mine. The mine collapsed in the Jebel Amir area of the town of El Serief in north Darfur on Monday, an eyewitness said. Fighting between two Arab tribes over land and mining rights in the area this year has killed hundreds of people.
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Darfur Regional Authority official says 52 bodies have been recovered
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The collapse happened Monday in Sudan's north Darfur region
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Many people are still unaccounted for, the official says
Independent gold mining has seen a boom in @placeholder in the past few years, as the country looks for new sources to boost its economy.