Central African Republic gold mine collapse kills at least 100

A devastating landslide at an illegal gold mine in the Central African Republic has claimed the lives of at least 100 people. The incident occurred in the Zamboye mining area, approximately 50 kilometers from Baboua, near the border with Cameroon. Rescue efforts are currently underway as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the tragedy.

Local sources reported the collapse happened on Monday afternoon, trapping miners beneath tons of earth. Cedric Mbango, a miner at the site, described the terrifying moment the ground gave way, stating, "The ground completely collapsed, burying people alive... As I speak to you now, there are still others buried underneath." Social media footage appears to show a section of the large open-pit mine, where hundreds of miners were working, collapsing and engulfing individuals.

This latest disaster is tragically not an isolated event in the mineral-rich Central African Republic. The country has experienced multiple similar accidents in recent months, often attributed to unregulated and unsafe mining practices. In June, dozens of people died in a collapse at the Be-Mbari gold mine, also near the Cameroonian border. Prior to that, a landslide in the western village of Ngourroum in mid-March resulted in seven fatalities, and a collapse in Gordi in the northeast in February killed 20 people.

The prevalence of these accidents highlights the dangers associated with informal and unsupervised mining operations. Without state regulation, miners often work in precarious conditions, increasing the risk of such catastrophic events. The Zamboye mine collapse serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for improved safety standards and oversight in the country's mining sector.

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The ground completely collapsed, burying people alive… As I speak to you now, there are still others buried underneath.