At least a hundred people lost their lives on Tuesday when an artisanal gold mine collapsed in the Central African Republic (CAR), according to authorities and a senior official from a local mining association. A prosecutor from the country confirmed that the incident occurred at the mine in the town of Zamboye, in the sub-prefecture of Nana-Mambere, in the Abba region, near the border with Cameroon, but noted that the exact number of deceased, among other details, was still being determined. On Wednesday, local authorities and witnesses confirmed to Efe that the collapse had been caused by a landslide.
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In a statement, the same prosecutor said that rescue efforts were ongoing and that an investigation would be opened to determine the cause and who was managing the operation. Cameroonian authorities stated that they were prepared to receive and provide medical assistance to any injured persons crossing the border, according to Reuters.
Images shared on social media and by local media show the moment when the landslide buries what appear to be hundreds of people in a huge quarry, in front of the eyes of another hundred individuals who watch helplessly. Efe has not been able to verify the images.
“The site is an artisanal mining operation where activities are not carried out according to regulations (…) So far, we have counted at least 100 dead, but this is not the final figure and we will provide an update at the end of the day,” Zamboye’s deputy mayor, Souleymane Bi, told Efe on Wednesday. This figure has not yet been confirmed.
The senior official stated that the landslide was “predictable” because artisanal miners “dig deep pits to extract gold,” and lamented that “the young people who perish under the rubble have no choice but to take this risk.”
“It is horrible and we call on the Government and its partners, all people of good will, and organizations to help rescue those trapped in the pit,” Bi added, detailing that an undetermined number of injured have been taken to Bouar, the capital of the sub-prefecture.
Several miners also confirmed what happened. “We are deeply saddened to have lost our companions under the mass of earth that collapsed,” artisanal miner Wilfried Ngoloyangue told the Spanish news agency.
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Florian Gaguende, another miner, warned that “many people are still missing” and that the chances of rescuing them “are increasingly slim.” “The population is shocked and rescue efforts are limited and lack the necessary resources. Only small-scale artisans are doing what they can, but it is not enough,” he added.
Évariste Ngamana, spokesperson for the Central African government, also lamented the events and assured, calling for “solidarity,” that “the Government is working tirelessly to provide aid and assistance to the victims and shares the pain of the families affected by this tragedy.”
Rise of gold mining
Tuesday’s incident occurred amid a gold rush in the region, attracting a growing number of young people. Every year, hundreds of miners lose their lives due to landslides or water contamination caused by chemicals used in gold extraction.
The western part of the CAR is rich in gold deposits and artisanal mining supports livelihoods in communities across Africa, but poor regulation and inadequate safety standards often lead to fatal accidents.
The government grants exploitation permits to mining cooperatives. These mines operate using artisanal methods and, in some cases, partner with Chinese companies for semi-mechanized or industrial mining. Increasingly, citizens of the country are demanding stricter regulations from their government.
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