More than 100 people have reportedly been killed after an artisanal gold mine collapsed in western Central African Republic (CAR), near the border with Cameroon.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 18, in Zamboye village, about 50 kilometres from Baboua in the Central African Republic and a few kilometres from Garoua-Boulai in eastern Cameroon.
Footage from the scene shows miners fleeing as the mine collapsed, with several people reportedly buried beneath the rubble.
Gervais Ganagoroh, a Red Cross volunteer involved in the rescue operation, told the Associated Press on Wednesday that more than 100 bodies had been recovered.
A senior official of a local mining association also confirmed to Reuters that the death toll had exceeded 100, while other local sources gave similar figures to AFP.
The number of casualties is expected to increase as rescue workers continue searching for people who remain trapped or missing.
Bertrand Be Yangue, a local official, described the situation as devastating.
“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.”
Souleymane Bi, deputy mayor of Nana-Mambere prefecture, also appealed for assistance from humanitarian organisations and other well-meaning individuals.
Underground Tunnels Collapsed
The Baboua public prosecutor said the disaster was believed to have been caused by the collapse of several underground tunnels where miners were working.
A judicial inquiry has been opened to determine the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
However, local officials said it was still too early to establish a definitive death toll.
One of the miners at the site, Cedric Mbango, described the incident as “catastrophic”, saying the ground collapsed completely and buried several people.
Rescue efforts were reportedly still ongoing, with some victims believed to remain trapped underground.
Authorities in Cameroon have also offered support, with the governor of the country’s eastern region saying officials were working closely with their Central African counterparts to respond to the tragedy.
The incident has renewed concerns over the dangers associated with unregulated artisanal mining, where miners often work in unstable underground pits with limited safety measures.