Authorities in the Central African Republic have closed the Zamboye artisanal gold mine near the Cameroon border after a landslide killed at least 49 people, with local sources saying the number of victims could be close to 100.
The Mines Ministry said the victims included 34 Central Africans, 13 Cameroonians and two Chadians. Seven people injured in the collapse were taken to a hospital in Baboua, about 50 kilometres from the mine.
But families are still searching for missing miners, raising fears that the official death toll could increase.
Roger Bana Nzala travelled from Bouar after learning that his brother was trapped at the site. His family was unable to recover the body.
“We weren’t able to find our brother; he is still in the ground,” he said.
Authorities suspended rescue operations after further collapses and heavy rains made the site too dangerous to enter.
The mine has been placed under security control as officials investigate the disaster and assess the risks at the site.
The collapse has also renewed questions about safety in the Central African Republic’s informal mining sector, where thousands of people depend on artisanal gold mining for their livelihoods.
Civil society activist Crescent Beninga said the tragedy showed that more action was needed after previous mine collapses, including a deadly incident at the Be-Mbari gold mine near the Cameroon border in June.
Zamboye mine, also known locally as Moscow-RCA, is a large open-pit operation near the Kadei River.
The latest disaster has increased pressure on the government to strengthen mining regulations and safety measures in a sector where limited oversight and unsafe working conditions continue to put miners at risk.
For families waiting for their loved ones, however, the immediate concern is more personal as finding those still buried beneath the mine.
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