Deadly Gold Mine Collapse in Central African Republic Kills Scores Near Cameroon Border

 BANGUI — A catastrophic landslide and underground tunnel collapse struck an artisanal gold mining site in western Central African Republic (CAR), resulting in dozens of confirmed deaths and widespread search-and-rescue operations near the Cameroonian border.

Incident at Zamboye Mining Site

The disaster occurred at an informal mining encampment in the village of Zamboye, situated roughly 50 kilometers from Baboua. Heavy earth movements triggered an avalanche of soil and sand that inundated active pits and underground shafts where miners were operating.

Eyewitness footage and initial reports from local relief teams described a sudden collapse of multiple interconnected subterranean tunnels, burying workers under heavy debris within seconds.

Casualty Reports and Cross-Border Impact

Official casualty figures remain under assessment as excavation efforts continue:

• Government Confirmation: CAR Mines Minister Rufin Benam Beltoungou confirmed at least 49 fatalities, identifying the deceased as 35 Central African nationals, 12 Cameroonians, and two Chadians.

• Local and Red Cross Estimates: Relief volunteers and senior representatives from local mining associations reported that the death toll could exceed 100 as rescue teams recover additional remains from the deluge.

• Cross-Border Cooperation: Regional authorities in Cameroon’s Eastern region confirmed cross-border casualties and initiated coordination with Central African officials to manage recovery operations and body repatriations.

Government Response and Artisanal Mining Risks

Following the disaster, CAR authorities ordered the immediate formal suspension and closure of mining activities across the Zamboye sector pending the outcome of an official inquiry.

Artisanal and small-scale mining remains a widespread economic activity across Central and West Africa, frequently conducted in abandoned or unregulated pits without structural reinforcements or emergency safety protocols. Rescue operations remain hampered by unstable terrain and concerns that heavy machinery could endanger any potential survivors trapped beneath the collapsed earth.