Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Christian Kabore speaks to media during the opening ceremony of Fespaco on Saturday. (Photo: AFP)
OUAGADOUGOU, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Monday's explosion at an artisanal gold mining site in southwestern Burkina Faso has risen from 59 to 63, said a judicial source on Tuesday.
A suspect has been arrested, added the source.
The governor of the South-West region, Emmanuel Zongo, also announced in a press release the immediate closure of the site until further notice.
An explosion occurred on Monday on an artisanal gold mining site in Gongombiro, rural commune of Gbomblora in the southwestern province of Poni.
The ministry in charge of mines had given Monday evening, a provisional assessment of 59 loss of human life, serious injuries and significant material damage.
The cause of the explosion remained unknown. An investigation was underway.
