KHARTOUM, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 people have been killed after a gold mine collapsed in northeastern Sudan, Sudan Tribune reported Thursday.

Two others were injured in the accident in the mine, that is located on the Atbara-Haya road, some 580 km northeast of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, the report said.

The mine completely collapsed on Tuesday with dozens of people buried inside, the majority of who were from Sudan's Darfur, relatives of some of the victims were quoted as saying.

Sudan's Minerals Ministry has said there are over 2 million Sudanese employees working in the traditional mining industry, producing around 80 percent of the country's gold.

Currently, Sudan ranks the third, after Ghana and South Africa, in gold production in Africa, but observers expect it to climb to the top this year.

Sudan depends on the revenues of gold mining to compensate the loss of two thirds of its oil production following the separation of South Sudan in 2011.