New Delhi: More than 100 people have died after an artisanal gold mine collapsed in western Central African Republic, with several miners still missing
or trapped under the rubble. The disaster took place on Tuesday at a mining site in Zamboye village, in Nana-Mambéré prefecture, close to the border with Cameroon.
The mine, which operated on a low-tech and largely informal basis, caved in after a landslide. Local officials initially reported at least 30 deaths, but the toll rose sharply as rescue and recovery teams reached more parts of the collapsed site. A local Red Cross volunteer said more than 100 bodies had been recovered, while several others remained unaccounted for.
What happened at the mine?
The collapse occurred at the Zamboye mining site near Garoua-Boulaï in eastern Cameroon. Footage from the scene shows the mine giving way and people scrambling as earth and debris engulfed the site. Rescue workers and local residents have been digging through the rubble in an effort to recover victims and locate survivors.
Authorities have begun investigating the circumstances behind the collapse. The final death toll is not yet considered definitive because some miners remain missing or buried. Several survivors were also reported to have suffered critical injuries.
Terrifying footage captures the moment a gold mine collapsed in Zamboye, Central African Republic, killing at least 107 miners.
Video Credit : WorldUpdates // X pic.twitter.com/1p4CRLxvSB
— Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) August 19, 2026
Why are mine collapses common in Central African Republic?
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of artisanal mining in the Central African Republic where such cases are known to recur. Thousands of people in the region rely on small-scale, informal mining for their livelihoods and are known to often work without adequate safety equipment, engineering assessments or regulatory oversight.
Mine accidents are relatively frequent in the region. Another gold mine collapse near the Cameroonian border in June reportedly killed several people, while separate mining accidents earlier this year also claimed lives. The latest disaster has renewed concerns over the safety of workers operating in unregulated mining sites.
The Central African Republic is rich in gold and other minerals, but widespread poverty and limited employment opportunities have pushed many workers into dangerous informal mining operations.
