More than 100 people have died after a gold mine collapsed in the Central African Republic, triggering a landslide that buried workers near the Cameroon border. Rescuers are continuing to recover bodies from the mining site in Zamboye, but local workers said the response lacked the equipment and expertise needed for a disaster of such scale.
Collapse Near Baboua
The landslide occurred about 31 miles from the town of Baboua, close to the border with Cameroon. Harrowing social media footage shows an avalanche of sand engulfing a large crowd gathered near the mine shortly before it collapsed. The death toll is expected to rise, with people still feared missing as rescue teams race against the clock to locate those buried under the rubble, two days after the disaster.
Rescue Efforts and Eyewitness Accounts
“The rescue effort is being organised, but it is not up to the task,” said Jérémie Ngbiri, a miner at the site who lost his brother and a friend in the collapse. He said he saw some victims suffocate as people tried to rescue them. The local Red Cross was helping with the search but could not say how many people remained buried, volunteer Gervais Ganagoro said. “We continue to find bodies,” he said, adding that more than 10 were recovered this morning alone. “Every hour, bodies are being discovered, increasing the number of victims.”
Bertrand Be Yangué, a member of the Zamboye youth council, said of the search for more survivors: “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.” In addition to the dead, several survivors were critically injured, said Gervais Ganagoroh, a local Red Cross volunteer involved in relief efforts. Other footage shows miners covered in mud pulling bodies from the pit, while dozens of others moved around the sprawling mining area and shouted for help.
Investigation and Context
The local Baboua subprefecture court said in a statement that several underground tunnels in which the miners were working had collapsed, causing a landslide. An investigation has been opened to determine why the tunnels collapsed, identify the victims and those responsible for operating the site, as well as establish any potential criminal liability, the statement said. Artisanal mine collapses are common in Central African Republic, where thousands of people work in small-scale mining, often with little protection. Pits are frequently dug by hand and can reach several meters deep. Without adequate reinforcement, shifting ground can cause tunnels to collapse suddenly, burying miners within seconds.
Mines Minister Rufin Benam Beltoungou expressed condolences to victims’ families and warned miners about the dangers of unsafe mining practices, according to a statement posted by the ministry. Some of the victims were from neighbouring Cameroon and the country's Mines Ministry said it had deployed a team to assess the situation along the border.
