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Minister Wilmot Paye said on Tuesday seven people died in Monday night’s incident, but acknowledged the authorities could not yet provide an exact death toll until a team reached the site in River Cess County in south-central Liberia.

“I was told that seven persons died, but I can’t say much until the team gets there. The mines had been abandoned several months ago,” Paye told Reuters, adding that he did not know which company had operated the site.

“If we get the details of the company, the law will take its course,” he said.

Liberia, one of the world’s poorest countries, is rich in minerals including gold, diamonds and iron ore. Paye gave no details about the nature of the accident.