Goldmine collapse death toll passes 100 in Central Africa

The disaster struck on August 18 afternoon in the village of Zamboye. The village is about 50km from the town of Baboua and lies close to the border with Cameroon. Local officials and aid workers confirmed that the mine caved in following the landslide.

Rescuers are working to recover the bodies of victims and search for possible survivors trapped at the site. The exact number of people inside the mine when the collapse occurred remains unknown, making it difficult for authorities to determine the full scale of the disaster.

The miners are believed to include nationals from both the Central African Republic and Cameroon. Authorities in Cameroon’s Eastern region remarked that at least 3 Cameroonian citizens had been identified among the victims.

Grégoire Mvongo, governor of Cameroon’s Eastern region, stated that regional authorities were working closely with counterparts in the Central African Republic to manage the aftermath of the tragedy. Recovery operations continues as officials assess the number of casualties and coordinate support for affected communities.

Small-scale artisanal mining is common in several parts of Africa despite regulations that criminalise such activities. High unemployment continues to push able-bodied workers towards abandoned or unused mining sites in search of income.

Many of these mining operations function with limited safety standards and inadequate protection for workers. The weak conditions contributed to repeated accidents across the Central African Republic.

At least 40 people have died in several mining incidents across the country this year alone. The latest collapse highlights the continuing dangers faced by workers at informal mining sites as authorities and rescue teams deal with one of the deadliest mining disasters in the region.