At least 100 Dead at Central African Gold Mine Collapse
A tragic collapse at an artisanal gold mine in the western Central African Republic has claimed the lives of at least thirty people, with some local accounts placing the death toll higher.
The accident occurred on Tuesday in the village of Zamboye, only a short distance from the Cameroonian town of Garoua-Boulai. Rescue teams and residents worked for hours to recover bodies from the site while treating those who survived the sudden disaster.
Souleymane Bi, the deputy mayor of Nana-Mambere prefecture, confirmed that thirty bodies had been pulled from the rubble and that injured miners were receiving medical care. “It is horrible and we are calling for help from organisations and all people of goodwill to help,” he said, underscoring the urgent need for additional support. A local civil servant speaking to reporters suggested the number of dead could reach approximately forty, though he cautioned that establishing a precise official figure remained difficult amid ongoing operations.
One miner present at the site, Cedric Mbango, described the scene as catastrophic. “The ground completely collapsed and buried people. As I speak to you, other people are still buried. Rescue attempts are under way,” he told journalists. The sudden failure of the ground trapped workers beneath the earth, complicating efforts to locate and free those still trapped. Government spokesman Evariste Ngamana expressed official sympathy for the bereaved families and stated that authorities were working diligently to deliver relief and assistance to those affected.
Such accidents are a recurring danger in the Central African Republic, where thousands of people engage in small-scale gold extraction often beyond effective government oversight. Miners typically operate with minimal safety equipment, leaving them highly vulnerable when tunnels or open pits give way. The latest tragedy follows a series of similar incidents, including a June collapse at the Be-Mbari site that also killed dozens, a March landslide that claimed seven lives in Ngourroum, and an earlier accident in Gordi that left twenty dead.
The repeated loss of life highlights the hazardous conditions faced by informal miners who rely on these operations for survival in a region marked by limited economic alternatives. As recovery efforts continue near the border, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost attached to unregulated artisanal mining. Families, local officials and international organisations now face the difficult task of supporting survivors and preventing further tragedies in an industry that remains both vital and perilous for many communities.
