An artisanal miner was killed and eight others injured in a landslide early Tuesday at Shilalo gold mines, in Tanzania's northwest region of Mwanza, police said.

"The landslide occurred when the miners were digging gold at a gold mine located at Shilalo in Misungwi district." Muliro Jumanne, the Mwanza regional police commander, told a news conference, adding that one miner remains unaccounted for.

Jumanne said the landslide, which occurred at 1 a.m. on Tuesday, hit two pits.

"The landslide blocked the miners' entrance and rescuers had to work hard to unblock the entrance." said the police officer.

Jumanne said the injured miners are receiving treatment in hospital and are in good condition.

There are more than 6 million small-scale miners across the east African nation, according to statistics by the Federation of Miners Association of Tanzania.