Armed attackers have killed at least 73 people at a gold mine in South Sudan, according to government officials, in violence linked to a dispute over gold extraction.
The incident occurred on Saturday near Jebel Iraq in Central Equatoria State, Vice President James Wani Igga said.
At least 25 others were injured, while some fled the scene.
Authorities cautioned that the death toll may rise as efforts to locate missing persons continue.
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It remains unclear which group carried out the attack.
The vice president said an investigation would be launched, adding that security at mining sites and commercial centres would be reinforced.
Charles Madut, the governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state in the country’s north-west, condemned the attack, describing the violence against innocent civilians as unacceptable and saying the perpetrators must be brought to justice.
NAN
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