More than 100 people were killed when an artisanal gold mine collapsed in western Central African Republic on Tuesday, making it one of the deadliest mining disasters in the country’s recent history.
The collapse struck a low-tech mining site in the Abba region of Nana-Mambere prefecture, near the border with Cameroon. Rescuers pulled bodies from the debris over several hours, with the death toll climbing from an initial count of 30 to more than 100 by Wednesday.
Rescue efforts continue
Florian Gaguende, one of the surviving miners, told media that rescuers were searching for additional workers believed trapped, but that the chance of finding them alive was getting slimmer. Souleymane Bi, deputy mayor of the sub-prefecture, said local residents joined rescue workers in pulling victims from the collapsed mine.
Bi called for help from organizations and all people of good will to assist in pulling victims from the hole. Cameroonian authorities said they were ready to receive and provide medical care to any injured people who crossed the border.
Weak safety standards
Government spokesman Evariste Ngamana expressed sympathy for the families of the victims and said authorities were working hard to provide relief and assistance. Footage from the scene showed chaotic rescue efforts with miners, mostly young men and women covered in mud, pulling bodies from the pit.
Artisanal mine collapses are common in the Central African Republic, where several thousand people work in small-scale extraction mining. The sector has been booming in recent years, but weak regulation and poor safety standards frequently lead to deadly accidents. At least 40 people have died in several mining incidents in the country this year alone.
The Central African Republic’s artisanal mining sector supports livelihoods across the country, with many workers who previously extracted diamonds shifting to gold as commodity prices have risen. The mines typically operate without proper safety equipment, structural support, or government oversight.
Sources: Reuters; AP News; The Guardian; Al Jazeera
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