A gold mine partly collapsed in eastern Sudan, killing 11 miners, the state-run company in charge of the project said on Sunday.

According to a statement by the Sudanese Mineral Resources Limited Company, the collapse of the Kersh al-Feel mine happened over the weekend in the desert town of Houeid in the eastern Nile River province, injuring seven workers who were transferred to a hospital.

The company said it had stopped excavation and reiterated its warning to informal miners against working at the site.

Sudan is a major gold producer but mine collapses are common due to poor safety standards.