Hopes are fading for survivors of a collapsed gold mine in the Central African Republic, where the disaster has claimed more than 100 lives and left an unknown number buried under debris. Rescuers are continuing to recover bodies from the artisanal mining site in Zamboye, near the border with Cameroon.
Local miners and Red Cross volunteers have stated that the rescue operations are not adequately equipped or staffed for an event of this magnitude. "The rescue effort is being organized, but it is not up to the task," said Jérémie Ngbiri, a miner at the site who lost his brother and a friend in the collapse. He also reported witnessing victims suffocating during attempted rescues.
More than 10 bodies were recovered on Thursday morning alone, according to volunteer Gervais Ganagoro of the local Red Cross. "Every hour, bodies are being discovered, increasing the number of victims," he said.
The mine collapsed Tuesday following a landslide. By Wednesday, local officials and the Red Cross had confirmed over 100 deaths, warning that the toll was expected to rise. Mines Minister Rufin Benam Beltoungou issued a statement expressing condolences and cautioning miners about the dangers of unsafe practices.
Some of the deceased were from neighboring Cameroon, according to Cameroon's Mines Ministry, which deployed a team to assess the situation along the border. The state-run Cameroon Tribune reported at least four Cameroonian fatalities.
Artisanal mine collapses are a recurring issue in the Central African Republic, where thousands engage in small-scale mining with minimal safety precautions. Pits are often hand-dug and can be several meters deep. Inadequate reinforcement of tunnels can lead to sudden ground shifts, entombing miners. This collapse occurred in an area experiencing a rapidly expanding gold rush, with reports from earlier this year highlighting unsafe and unregulated mining activities.
A 2025 report by U.N. experts documented illicit mining in the region, noting the involvement of armed groups and the use of extraction methods that posed health and environmental risks.