An armed group, linked to the Islamic State, attacked early this Thursday morning, 20, the camp of Gemrock Ruby Mine, a ruby mine near Namanhumbir, in the district of Montepuez, in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, forcing the firm to evacuate workers.

The information was confirmed to VOA by residents and authorities, and the company later issued a statement.

Two truck drivers arrived in the village of Montepuez with thousands of displaced people voluntarily transported on their leashes as the first aid plan.

The group invaded the mine around 4 a.m. local time, when most of the workers were not yet in camp, and caused damage to rolling stock and infrastructure, several local sources told VOA.

So far there are no reports of human damage.

A resident told VOA that the insurgents only left the site after about three hours of clashes with the Mozambican Defense and Security Forces (FDS), who managed to control the mine around 7 a.m.

"The insurgents' movement started almost at dawn, but the biggest stir came when shots started to be heard in the village coming from the ruby mines and led many to flee on foot," added the same source who requested anonymity.

In a statement, Gemfields mining company, confirmed the insurgents' attack on Gemrock, which is about 12 kilometers southeast of the operations of Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM), - with one of the most significant ruby deposits in the world - where it holds 75 percent interest in the operations and announced the evacuation of its workers.

As a consequence of the attack, "MRM has begun the process of evacuating operational and contract employees and therefore mining operations at the site have been shut down," the statement issued in London advanced.

"Security personnel and the Mozambican police force remain on site and Mozambican military personnel are arriving on site," he added, concluding that Gemfields and MRM maintain the health and safety of their employees and contractors as their highest priority.

VOA tried in vain to hear from the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) in Pemba, who did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

The attack sparked a new wave of displaced people, with thousands arriving in the early afternoon in the district headquarters town of Montepuez, worsening the already critical humanitarian crisis.

"The situation is not the best, two cargo trucks have already arrived with many people fleeing the attacks," a resident of Montepuez told VOA.

In a video circulating on social media, a driver can be seen opening the tailgate of his trailer to allow people to get off the truck.

On Monday, 17, at least seven people were beheaded to death in the administrative post of Meza, in Ancuabe district, when the armed group, locally known as al-Shaabab intensified its armed incursions.

The area received a security reinforcement from Mozambican and foreign troops on Wednesday, 19.

Insurgents have intensified attacks on villages since last week, with most of the violent incidents concentrated in the districts of Nangade and Ancuabe.