More than 100 people were killed after an artisanal gold mine collapsed in western Central African Republic near the border with Cameroon, a local mining official said on Wednesday.
The disaster occurred on Tuesday in the village of Zamboye, where miners were working at the site when the pit collapsed.
An official with a local mining association said the death toll had surpassed 100, making the incident one of the country’s deadliest recent mining disasters.
Authorities have not yet issued a final casualty count.
A prosecutor in the western town of Bouar confirmed that the collapse had caused multiple deaths and injuries and said several people remained missing. The prosecutor did not provide exact figures, suggesting the toll could change as rescue and recovery operations continue.
Artisanal and small-scale mining provides an important source of income for communities across Central African Republic and much of the continent, but miners frequently work in poorly reinforced pits with limited safety equipment and little regulatory oversight.
Fatal collapses are common in informal mining areas, particularly during periods of heavy rain or when deep shafts are dug without adequate structural support.
Central African Republic is rich in mineral resources, including gold and diamonds, but much of the sector is dominated by small-scale and informal operations.
Authorities have not yet said what caused the Zamboye mine to collapse or how many people may still be trapped beneath the debris.
