Central African Republic Shuts Down Collapsed Gold Mine That Killed Over 100
CAR closes Zamboye gold mine after collapse killed over 100, citing non-compliance with mining standards.
The Central African Republic's government has ordered the closure of a gold mining site in the west of the country where a collapse earlier this week claimed more than 100 lives. The decision was announced on Saturday by Mines and Geology Minister Ruffin Benam Beltoungou, who cited widespread violations of mining regulations and administrative directives.
The Zamboye site, already officially shut before the accident, continued to attract illegal miners operating outside the legal framework. The collapse also left several other people injured, and an official investigation into the cause is now underway.
Local workers attempting to search for survivors were severely hampered by a lack of expertise and heavy equipment, which proved inadequate for a disaster of this scale. The tragedy highlights the persistent dangers facing small-scale miners in the mineral-rich nation, where weak oversight and minimal protective measures make deadly accidents a recurring outcome.
Quentin Ngbouando, leader of the civil society group I Gwe, said the minister's decision was expected and logical, but stressed that the miners were working illegally and outside the bounds of the law.