RismadarVoice Reporters, August 20, 2026
The death toll from the collapse of an artisanal gold mine in western Central African Republic has risen to more than 100, according to a local Red Cross volunteer and a community official.
The mine collapsed on Tuesday morning in Zamboye village, Nana-Mambere prefecture, close to the border with Cameroon.
Gervais Ganagoroh, a Red Cross volunteer involved in the rescue operation, said several survivors sustained critical injuries following the incident.
Local authorities warned that the death toll could increase as rescue teams continued searching for people trapped beneath the rubble. Several others were also reported missing.
Bertrand Be Yangué, a member of the Zamboye youth council, expressed concern over the loss of lives, saying many of the victims were young people who had turned to mining to support their families.
Video footage from the scene showed miners and other workers covered in mud attempting to recover bodies from the collapsed pit, while others called for assistance.
An investigation has been launched to determine what caused the collapse, establish the identities of the victims and examine the circumstances surrounding the operation of the mining site.
A prosecutor at the Baboua sub-prefecture court said the investigation would also determine whether anyone could face criminal responsibility over the disaster.
Artisanal mine collapses are relatively common in the Central African Republic, where thousands of people depend on small-scale mining for their livelihoods.
The sector is considered particularly dangerous because miners often work with limited safety equipment and inadequate protection, increasing the risk of fatal accidents.
