At least 100 people have been killed after an artisanal gold mine collapsed in western Central African Republic (CAR), near the border with Cameroon.
The incident occurred on Tuesday in Zamboye, about 50 kilometres from Baboua and a few kilometres from Garoua-Boulaï in eastern Cameroon.
A Red Cross volunteer involved in the rescue operation said more than 100 bodies had been recovered, while several miners were still missing or trapped beneath the rubble. Local officials warned that the death toll could rise.
The collapse is believed to have occurred after several underground tunnels gave way while miners were working. Authorities have launched a judicial investigation into the disaster.
A miner at the site described the incident as “catastrophic”, saying rescue efforts were continuing as people remained buried underground.
Government officials expressed sympathy for the victims’ families and said emergency assistance was being provided. Authorities in neighbouring Cameroon also said they were cooperating with Central African officials in response to the tragedy.
Artisanal mining accidents are common in the Central African Republic, where thousands of people work in small-scale mines, often without adequate safety equipment.
The latest disaster follows several other deadly mining accidents in the country this year, highlighting the dangerous conditions faced by artisanal miners.
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