A landslide at an artisanal goldmine in Zamboye village, located approximately 50 kilometers from Baboua in western Central African Republic, resulted in a major loss of life on Tuesday afternoon. Local authorities and aid organizations confirmed that more than 100 bodies had been recovered from the collapse, with the exact number of people present at the time of the incident remaining uncertain.
According to statements from local prosecutors, the disaster was caused by the collapse of multiple underground tunnels where miners were actively working. Video footage circulated on social media appeared to capture an avalanche of sand descending on a group of individuals at the site. Gervais Ganagoroh, a Red Cross volunteer participating in relief operations, and officials from a local mining association both confirmed the death toll to international news agencies on Wednesday.
Rescue efforts are ongoing to locate and recover additional victims and potential survivors. The workforce at the site consisted primarily of nationals from both Central African Republic and Cameroon, with authorities in Cameroon’s Eastern region reporting at least three confirmed fatalities from their country. Regional officials from Cameroon stated they were collaborating with their Central African counterparts to address the consequences of the incident.
Local community members expressed grave concern about recovery prospects. A member of the Zamboye youth council characterized finding survivors as unlikely and noted the emotional toll on the community, adding that the death toll was expected to increase as recovery operations continued. Rescue teams are using heavy machinery including tractors in their retrieval efforts, though this equipment could potentially endanger any survivors still trapped beneath the debris.
Artisanal mining operations remain prevalent throughout Africa despite regulations restricting such activities, as economic hardship drives individuals to work in abandoned or inactive mines. These informal mining sites typically operate with inadequate safety standards. Earlier this year, at least 40 fatalities were recorded across multiple mining incidents in Central African Republic alone.
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