Over 100 Fatalities Reported After Gold Mine Collapse in CAR

More than 100 people are confirmed dead following a landslide that caused a gold mine to collapse in the Central African Republic (CAR). The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in the village of Zamboye, situated approximately 50 kilometres from the town of Baboua and near the border with Cameroon.

Officials and aid workers reported that a significant number of individuals were trapped beneath the rubble, with local sources stating that recovery operations are still underway. A local public prosecutor indicated that many miners were present during the collapse, but exact numbers remain unclear.

Gervais Ganagoroh, a volunteer with the Red Cross involved in the search efforts, disclosed to the Associated Press that over 100 bodies had been recovered. This figure was corroborated by a senior member of a local mining association, as reported by Reuters. In light of the ongoing rescue operations, officials have expressed concern that the death toll may rise.

The landslide is believed to have resulted from the failure of multiple underground tunnels where miners were working. Cedric Mbango, a miner present at the site, described the situation as catastrophic: “The ground completely collapsed and buried people.”

Rescue teams are racing against time to find survivors, although local representatives have indicated that the prospects of locating individuals alive are diminishing. Bertrand Be Yangué, a member of the Zamboye youth council, lamented the loss, stating, “Finding them alive would be a miracle. We are saddened and heartbroken to see young men and women perish after coming to the mines to save their families from despair.”

Authorities have initiated an investigation into the collapse, according to local media sources in CAR. The regional governor of Cameroon’s Eastern region confirmed that at least three victims from Cameroon had been identified.

Reports indicate that heavy machinery is being employed in the recovery efforts, raising concerns about its impact on the potential rescue of any survivors still trapped beneath the debris. The dynamics of small-scale artisanal mining in CAR are noteworthy, given their prevalence despite stringent regulations prohibiting such operations. High unemployment rates drive locals to these hazardous mining sites, often resulting in severe safety risks that have led to numerous fatalities; in fact, 40 individuals have lost their lives in various mining incidents in CAR this year alone.