Peru landslide kills gold miners

At least eight gold miners have been killed in a landslide caused by heavy rain in Peru's southern region of Puno, government and mining officials said.

Between 20 and 30 other miners are reported to be missing.

The avalanche of rock and mud fell on a remote mining camp in the village of Huanchumay early on Monday.

Aid workers are trying to locate those missing. But many roads in the area remain closed because of the rain, hampering rescue efforts.

"There are another 22 people missing and we do not know yet whether they are dead or alive," Carlos Martin Roncal, a Huanchumay mine manager, was quoted by Reuters news agency.

Landslides in the mountainous regions of Peru are common during the rainy season, which in the south of the country runs from November through to April.

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