国际英语新闻：At least 200 people killed in cave-in in Sierra Leone

FREETOWN, March 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 200 people were killed on Friday in a cave-in which took place in a mine in the western African country of Sierra Leone, media reported.

The site was in a gold mine in the south of the country, less than 300 km from the capital of Freetown. The report said a trench collapsed in the mine, leading to the accident. No further details was available so far.

Bordering the Atlantic Ocean, Sierra Leone was between Guinea and Liberia in western Africa. The country covers an area of about 72,000 square km. Its natural resources included gold, diamonds, bauxite and iron ore.

The country has been plagued by a decade-long civil war. The Sierra Leonean government and the United Nations jointly established a special court in 2002. It is mandated to try those who bear the greatest responsibility for atrocities committed in Sierra Leone after Nov. 30, 1996.