Central African Republic Gold Mine Collapse: Death Toll Climbs Past 100
Rescuers in Central African Republic recover more bodies from a collapsed gold mine near the Cameroon border, with the death toll exceeding 100.
Rescue workers in Central African Republic are continuing to recover bodies from a collapsed gold mine near the Cameroonian border, two days after the disaster claimed more than 100 lives. Hopes of finding survivors are fading as the grim task of digging through the debris continues.
The collapse occurred on Tuesday at an artisanal mining site in Zamboye, following a landslide. Local officials and the Red Cross confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll had surpassed 100, warning that the number was likely to increase.
Jérémie Ngbiri, a miner at the site who lost his brother and a friend, said the rescue effort is not equipped to handle a disaster of this magnitude. He described witnessing victims suffocating as fellow miners attempted to free them.
Volunteers from the local Red Cross are assisting with the search, though they cannot confirm how many people remain buried. Gervais Ganagoro, a Red Cross volunteer, said more than ten bodies were recovered on Thursday morning alone, with more being discovered every hour.
The Mines Ministry, in a statement, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and cautioned miners about the dangers of unsafe practices. Some of the deceased are believed to be from neighboring Cameroon, and Cameroonian authorities have deployed a team to assess the situation along the border.
Artisanal mine collapses are a recurring tragedy in Central African Republic, where thousands work in small-scale mining operations with minimal safety measures. Pits are often dug by hand, reaching several meters deep without adequate reinforcement, leaving tunnels vulnerable to sudden collapse.
Earlier this year, researchers and local media highlighted unsafe and unregulated mining practices linked to a gold rush in the Zamboye area. A 2025 United Nations report documented illicit mining activities in the region, including the involvement of armed groups and extraction methods posing significant health and environmental risks.