The death toll from a gold mine collapse in the Central African Republic has climbed to more than 100, according to reports from a Red Cross volunteer and a local official on Wednesday. The disaster occurred Tuesday morning in the village of Zamboye, located in the Nana-Mambere prefecture near the border with Cameroon.
Several survivors sustained critical injuries, said Gervais Ganagoroh, a local Red Cross volunteer involved in the relief efforts. The number of fatalities is expected to increase as people remain missing and trapped beneath the rubble. "Finding them alive would be a miracle," said Bertrand Be Yangué, a member of the Zamboye youth council. "We are saddened and heartbroken to see young men and women perish after coming to the mines to save their families from despair."
An investigation has been launched to ascertain the cause of the collapse, identify victims and those responsible for the site's operation, and determine any potential criminal liability, the prosecutor at the Baboua sub-prefecture court stated. Footage from the scene depicted miners, predominantly young men and women covered in mud, retrieving a body from the pit, while dozens of others were scattered around the large site, some calling for assistance.
Artisanal mine collapses are a recurring issue in the Central African Republic, where thousands engage in small-scale mining. These operations often lack adequate safety measures, leading to frequent fatal incidents.