The death toll from a gold mine collapse in western Central African Republic has climbed to more than 100, according to a local Red Cross volunteer and an official involved in the rescue efforts. The artisanal mine collapsed on Tuesday morning in Zamboye village, located in Nana-Mambere prefecture near the Cameroon border.
Rescue teams are continuing their search for miners believed to be trapped beneath the rubble. However, surviving miner Florian Gaguende said hopes of finding more people alive were rapidly diminishing.
Several survivors suffered critical injuries in the accident, Red Cross volunteer Gervais Ganagoroh said. Officials warned that the death toll could increase further as some people remain missing and others are feared trapped inside the collapsed mine.
Bertrand Be Yangue, a member of the Zamboye youth council, described the situation as devastating and said finding those trapped alive would be a miracle. He expressed sorrow over the deaths of young men and women who had gone to the mine in an effort to earn money and support their families.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. The prosecutor at the Baboua sub-prefecture court said the probe will examine the cause of the collapse, help identify the victims and determine who was responsible for operating the mining site, including whether there was any criminal liability.
Footage from the site showed miners, many of them covered in mud, attempting to recover bodies from the pit. Dozens of workers were seen gathered around the large mining area, with some calling for help.
Artisanal mine collapses are a recurring problem in the Central African Republic, where thousands of people depend on small-scale mining for their livelihoods. The work is considered highly dangerous, with miners often lacking adequate safety equipment and protection, increasing the risk of fatal accidents.
