Rescue teams continue searching Zamboye mining site near Cameroon border as authorities investigate collapse of underground tunnels
BOUAR: A massive landslide at an illegal gold mine in the Central African Republic has killed at least 100 people, according to local sources, as rescuers continued searching for victims on Wednesday.
The disaster struck the Zamboye mining site on Tuesday afternoon, around 50 kilometres from Baboua near the border with Cameroon. Hundreds of artisanal miners reportedly work at the sprawling open-pit site.
Local sources said around 100 people had died, while many others suffered injuries. However, authorities have yet to establish an official death toll because search operations remain underway.
Baboua official Laurent Ngon Baba said determining an exact number remained difficult during the continuing recovery operation. Meanwhile, reports indicated that at least four Cameroonian nationals were among those killed.
Underground Tunnels Collapse at Mining Site
Authorities believe several underground tunnels suddenly collapsed while miners were working inside them, triggering the deadly landslide.
Baboua’s public prosecutor announced a judicial investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the disaster. Furthermore, emergency workers transported survivors to a hospital in Baboua while rescue teams searched through debris for people who may remain trapped.
Miner Cedric Mbango described the incident as catastrophic, saying the ground suddenly gave way and buried workers.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show a large section of earth collapsing across the mining area.
Deadly Mining Accidents Remain Persistent Threat
Illegal and artisanal mining operations remain widespread in the mineral-rich Central African Republic, where limited state oversight and unsafe working conditions frequently expose miners to deadly accidents.
Moreover, the latest tragedy follows several similar incidents this year. A mine collapse near Be-Mbari reportedly killed dozens in June, while another landslide killed seven people at Ngourroum in March.
Earlier, 20 people died in February following another mining accident in Gordi in the country’s northeast.
Meanwhile, Cameroonian regional authorities said they were coordinating closely with Central African officials as rescue and recovery operations continued.
