(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-03 16:21

KUNMING - Seven villagers were killed when the roof of a closed tin mine collapsed in China's southwestern Yunnan Province, a local source said on Monday.

Seven farmers from Renshan and Tiechang villages in Yunlong County were buried when the mine's support frame gave way at 10 pm Saturday. At the time, they were illegally digging for tin at the Jiciba mine. Another farmer survived, said a Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture official on Monday.

The mine, which belongs to the State-owned Yunlong Xidian Co Ltd, was closed in July 2005 for safety reasons. However, some nearby villagers had been digging at the mine secretly since then.