YAOUNDE, June 9 (Xinhua) -- At least eight artisanal gold miners were killed overnight into Tuesday in a landslide at the Konyeme mining site in the western Central African Republic, according to local authorities and media.

"Individuals arrived at the site around 2:00 a.m. local time to carry out illegal mining activities, which caused a collapse," said El Adj Moussa Laurent Ngon Baba, a member of parliament for Baboua 1, where the mining site is located.

"Among the eight victims are a local resident and seven suspected Fulani foreign nationals. Furthermore, this was a site still under development. I urge artisanal miners to be aware of the risks involved," he told Xinhua by phone.

Search and rescue operations continued for multiple people feared to be trapped under the debris, local media reported. ■