Over 100 feared dead after gold mine collapses in Central African Republic

More than 100 people are feared dead after an informal gold mine collapsed in the Central African Republic, with rescue teams continuing efforts to recover victims from the debris.

More than 100 people are feared dead after an informal gold mine collapsed in the Central African Republic, with rescue teams continuing efforts to recover victims from the debris.

The collapse occurred on Tuesday, August 18, at an informal gold-mining site in Zamboye village in the Nana-Mambere region, near the border with Cameroon.

Authorities and a Red Cross worker involved in the recovery operation reported that more than 100 bodies had been recovered from the wreckage. Several survivors were also reportedly pulled from the site with serious injuries.

A number of people remain missing or are believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed earth and rubble. Officials have warned that the confirmed death toll could increase as recovery operations continue and rescuers reach areas that remain inaccessible.

The mine was reportedly operating outside a formal industrial framework and lacked adequate safety measures. Multiple underground tunnels are believed to have collapsed, triggering the disaster and burying miners working at the site.Informal mining is widespread in parts of the Central African Republic, where people often depend on small-scale extraction activities for their livelihoods. However, limited infrastructure and inadequate safety standards can expose workers to significant risks, particularly at underground sites.

The remote location of the Zamboye mine has created additional difficulties for rescue teams. Poor conditions and limited access to the area have slowed recovery efforts, while personnel have had to search through large amounts of debris in the hope of finding survivors.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse. The inquiry is expected to examine the condition of the mine, the structure of the underground tunnels and whether safety requirements were ignored.

Establishing the final death toll may take time because of the remote location and the difficult recovery process. Local reports initially suggested that dozens of people had died, but subsequent accounts indicated that more than 100 bodies had been recovered.

The tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers faced by workers in informal mining operations, where limited regulation, insufficient equipment and unstable underground structures can contribute to deadly accidents.

Rescue and recovery teams are continuing to work at the site, while authorities are expected to provide further information as the operation progresses.