According to local authorities, cited by Reuters, at least 37 people were killed and some 60 people were injured when five buses were ambushed by unidentified gunmen approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the mine.
According to SEMAFO, the incident occurred approximately 40 kilometers from the Boungou Mine on the road between Fada and Boungou in the eastern region of the country. The company did not give, however, further details for an exact death toll, stressing that there were "several fatalities and injuries".
"The Company would like to express its sincere sympathy to families of the victims in addition to its firm support of Burkina Faso's security forces", SEMAFO said in the statement, adding that "Boungou mine site remains secured and our operations are not affected".
According to media reports, militants linked to al-Qaida and the Daesh terror group have crossed from Mali into Burkina Faso in recent months, forcing thousands of local civilians to flee.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said last week that thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes in recent weeks due to fierce fighting across northern Burkina Faso. The northern part of the country has been suffering for years at the hands of militants linked to various terror groups.
*al-Qaida, Daesh (ISIS, IS, ISIL, Islamic State) are terrorist groups banned in Russia and many other countries.
