Three miners have been killed and 10 trapped underground when a gold mine they were working at in northern Sudan collapsed.

The state's Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC) said three others were injured in the accident on Thursday night in Qabqaba, a main gold mining area in the Nile River state where both licensed companies and individuals dig for the precious metal.

Gold mining is one of the main sources of foreign currency in the impoverished country, and most of it is done using traditional methods, often with few safety measures.

The country produced around 100 tonnes of gold in 2017.

SMRC, which supervises the country's mining sector, said rescue teams were in contact with the trapped miners, who had been working on their own.

The statement said rescue teams from the company and the Nile River state were working to get the trapped miners out alive.

It said the three injured miners were in good condition.

"The company asserts its concern for the safety of all workers in mining and urged those working in mining in the country to make sure they follow safety regulations to ensure their safety," it said.