Central African Republic Suspends Operations After Catastrophic Gold Mine Collapse Kills Over 100

BANGUI — Following a catastrophic landslide that claimed more than 100 lives at an artisanal gold mining site in the western region of the country, the government of the Central African Republic has ordered the immediate temporary closure of the location near the border with Cameroon.

According to local authorities, emergency responders, and Red Cross volunteers, the disaster struck on Tuesday when multiple underground tunnels caved in at the remote Zamboye mining site in the Nana-Mambéré prefecture, triggering a massive avalanche of earth that buried workers. While the Ministry of Mines initially cited an early verified toll of 49 deaths—including citizens from neighboring Cameroon and Chad—local rescue workers and municipal officials confirmed that the death toll has surpassed 100 as recovery operations progressed over subsequent days.

National prosecutors have launched a formal judicial inquiry to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the collapse, investigate site management, and review operational compliance. Meanwhile, search and recovery teams, supported by local volunteers and cross-border cooperation, continue combing through the debris as authorities grapple with the aftermath of one of the nation's deadliest informal mining accidents.