More than 100 people have been killed after an artisanal gold mine collapsed in Zamboye village, in the Nana-Mambéré prefecture of the Central African Republic. Desperate rescue efforts are underway to find and save those believed to be trapped beneath the rubble following the collapse earlier this week.
Collapse Near Cameroon Border
The landslide occurred about 31 miles from the town of Baboua, close to the border with Cameroon. Harrowing footage circulating on social media appeared to show an avalanche of sand engulfing a large crowd gathered near the mine shortly before it collapsed.
The death toll is expected to rise, with several people still feared missing as rescue teams race against the clock to locate those buried under the rubble.
Heartbreaking Rescue Efforts
Bertrand Be Yangué, a member of the Zamboye youth council, said: "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.”
Heartbreaking footage from the site showed miners covered in mud pulling bodies from the pit, while dozens of others moved around the sprawling mining area and shouted for help. The miners are believed to be from CAR and Cameroon.
Investigation Launched
Authorities in Cameroon’s Eastern region said at least three of its citizens have been identified as victims in the incident. The exact number of people who were in the mine at the time of the collapse is unknown.
An investigation to identify the victims and those responsible for operating the site is underway, the prosecutor at the Baboua sub-prefecture court said in a statement. The investigation will seek to establish what caused the collapse and any potential criminal liability.
A second prosecutor said the incident is believed to have been caused by “the collapse of several underground tunnels in which miners were operating”. Describing the incident as “catastrophic”, Cedric Mbango, a miner at the site told AFP that “the ground completely collapsed and buried people”.
