Bangui, Central African Republic – More than 100 people have died after an artisanal goldmine at a small village in western Central African Republic (CAR) caved in due to a landslide, local officials and aid workers said on Wednesday.
The landslide happened on Tuesday afternoon in the village of Zamboye, about 50km (31 miles) from the town of Baboua and close to the border of Cameroon. Footage on social media appeared to show an avalanche of sand descend on a group of people, likely the miners, and cover them.
Key developments:
- Death toll: More than 100 confirmed dead
- Location: Zamboye village, western CAR, near Cameroon border
- Cause: Landslide caused collapse of underground mining tunnels
- Victims: Miners believed to be nationals of CAR and Cameroon
- Rescue efforts: Recovery of bodies continuing; survivors unlikely
- Investigation: Authorities have launched an inquiry
- Context: Artisanal mines common despite regulations; at least 40 deaths in CAR this year alone
- Witness quote: "The ground completely collapsed and buried people"
- Cameroon response: Governor working with CAR authorities on aftermath
- Rescue equipment: Heavy machinery may jeopardize survivors
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Local media in CAR reported that authorities had launched an investigation into the incident. A second prosecutor from Baboua told the press that the incident is believed to have been caused by "the collapse of several underground tunnels in which miners were operating".
"The ground completely collapsed and buried people," Cedric Mbango, a miner at the site, told the AFP news agency, describing the incident as "catastrophic".
Rescue Efforts
Rescuers are racing to retrieve the bodies of victims and find survivors among the miners, believed to be nationals of CAR and Cameroon. Authorities in Cameroon's Eastern region said at least three of its citizens have been identified as victims in the incident.
Grégoire Mvongo, the region's governor told state-owned radio on Wednesday that he was "working in close collaboration with our Central African colleagues to deal with the aftermath of this tragedy".
Bertrand Be Yangué, a member of the Zamboye youth council, said that "finding them alive would be a miracle." He added: "We are saddened and heartbroken to see young men and women perish after coming to the mines to save their families from despair."
The toll is expected to rise as the rescue efforts continue, added Yangué.
The Central African news website Corbeau News reported that heavy machinery, including tractors, was being used in the retrieval mission and could jeopardise the rescue of those still alive under the landmass.
Mining Context
The exact number of people who were in the mine at the time of the cave-in remains unknown.
Small scale artisanal mines are common in different parts of Africa, despite regulations criminalising them, as unemployment continues to drive able-bodied men to abandoned or unused mines, to eke a living. The mining sites often operate with weak safety standards leading to repeated incidents: at least 40 people have died in several mining incidents in CAR this year alone.
⛏️ The Big Picture
More than 100 people have died after a goldmine collapsed in the Central African Republic, one of the deadliest mining disasters in the country's history. The landslide, which occurred in the village of Zamboye near the Cameroon border, buried miners working in underground tunnels. Rescue efforts are ongoing but survivors are unlikely. The tragedy highlights the dangers of artisanal mining in Africa, where weak safety standards and unemployment drive workers to dangerous sites. At least 40 people have already died in mining incidents in CAR this year, underscoring the urgent need for better regulation and safety measures.
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