More than 100 people were killed when an artisanal gold mine collapsed in the Central African Republic on Tuesday, in one of the deadliest mining disasters to hit the country in years.
The collapse occurred in the village of Zamboye, located in the Nana-Mambere prefecture near the border with Cameroon. A senior official at a local mining association confirmed the toll, while a prosecutor said the exact number of deaths and circumstances were still being established.
Rescuers Pull Bodies From Rubble
Video footage from the site showed miners, mostly young men and women covered in mud, pulling bodies from the collapsed pit while dozens of other workers scattered across the site shouted for help. Rescue operations continued through the night, but officials warned that several people remained missing and trapped under the rubble.
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. – Bertrand Be Yangue, Zamboye youth council member
A prosecutor said an investigation would be opened to establish the cause of the collapse and identify who was operating the site. Cameroon authorities said they were prepared to receive and provide medical care to any injured people who crossed the border.
Artisanal Mining a Lifeline Despite Deadly Risks
Small-scale artisanal gold mining employs thousands of people across the Central African Republic, one of the world’s poorest nations. The sector provides a critical income source for rural communities, yet operates largely without safety standards, engineering oversight, or protective equipment.
The disaster is the second major mining accident in the CAR in 2026. In May, a separate artisanal mine collapse in the country’s northwestern region killed dozens. Across Africa, weak regulation and poor safety conditions at informal mining sites regularly lead to deadly incidents, including a 2024 gold mine collapse in Mali that killed more than 70.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned about the dangers facing workers at unregulated extraction sites, particularly during unstable weather conditions when soil becomes unstable. Despite these warnings, mining remains one of the few accessible economic opportunities in several rural regions of the CAR.
Sources: France 24; Reuters; AP News
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