More than 100 people are feared dead after an informal gold mine collapsed in the Central African Republic, with rescuers continuing to search through debris for survivors and victims.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 18, at a gold-mining site in Zamboye village in the Nana-Mambéré region, close to the border with Cameroon. Local authorities and a Red Cross worker involved in the recovery operation said more than 100 bodies had reportedly been recovered from the collapsed site.
The exact death toll remains unclear, however, as rescue teams are still working in difficult conditions and several people are believed to remain trapped or missing.
Multiple tunnels reportedly collapsed
According to initial information from authorities, several underground tunnels at the informal mining site collapsed, triggering the deadly accident.
The operation was reportedly being carried out outside a formal industrial mining framework, where workers had limited access to modern equipment and basic safety measures. Such conditions can increase the risk of tunnel collapses and other accidents, particularly when underground structures are not properly reinforced or monitored.
Some workers managed to escape the collapse but suffered serious injuries. Others remain unaccounted for, while rescuers fear that additional victims could still be buried beneath the rubble.
Authorities have launched an inquiry to determine the circumstances surrounding the collapse and establish whether safety violations or other factors contributed to the disaster.
Rescue efforts face major challenges
The remote location of the mining site has made the recovery operation particularly difficult.
Rescue personnel have been forced to work through large amounts of debris while facing challenging local conditions. The lack of specialised equipment and difficult access to the area have further complicated efforts to reach people who may still be trapped underground.
China Mine Explosion Leaves 82 Dead as Rescue Efforts Continue for Missing Workers
Workers continued searching the site on Wednesday in the hope of finding survivors and recovering those buried in the collapse.
Officials are expected to take additional time to establish a confirmed death toll because the recovery operation is still underway and some people may remain missing.
Informal mining carries significant risks
Informal and small-scale mining is common in parts of Central Africa, providing income for communities but often taking place without the safety standards and technical infrastructure associated with large-scale commercial mining.
Gold mining can involve deep underground shafts and tunnels, making structural instability a serious danger when excavation is carried out without adequate engineering assessments or reinforcement.
The latest tragedy has once again highlighted the risks faced by workers in poorly regulated mining operations.
As recovery teams continue their work in Zamboye, authorities are expected to provide a more accurate assessment of the number of casualties once the search operation is completed. For now, more than 100 deaths are feared, although the final toll could change as rescue and recovery efforts progress.
