More than 100 people died when a low-tech artisanal gold mine collapsed in western Central African Republic on Tuesday. The disaster in Zamboye, near the Cameroon border, was triggered by a landslide and underground tunnel collapse, prompting rescue efforts and a formal criminal investigation.
Rescue operations entered a critical phase as local authorities and volunteers struggled to recover victims buried beneath debris in the village of Zamboye, located about 50km from the town of Baboua in the Nana-Mambere prefecture. The disaster unfolded on Tuesday afternoon when an avalanche of sand descended on the mining site, burying miners and workers operating in the area according to local officials and aid workers.
Footage from the scene showed miners and local residents covered in mud, frantically pulling bodies from the earth while others shouted for help across the expansive site. While the exact number of people working in the mine when it caved in remains unknown, the death toll surpassed 100 victims by Wednesday as relief efforts continued.
The Collapse and Ongoing Recovery Efforts in Zamboye
The disaster struck when heavy rains weakened the surrounding soil and triggered the failure of narrow extraction pits. A second prosecutor from Baboua told the press that the tragedy was caused by the collapse of several underground tunnels in which miners were operating
as detailed in local reporting.
Relief workers faced severe logistical hurdles in the days following the cave-in. AP News reported that responders lacked the specialized equipment and expertise required for a disaster of this magnitude. Heavy tractors deployed to the area risk jeopardizing the safety of anyone who might still be alive beneath the massive landmass Theguardian.
Cross-Border Impact Involves Citizens from Neighboring Countries
The workforce at the Zamboye site draws individuals from across national borders, leaving families in neighboring countries grieving for relatives who traveled to the remote frontier in search of economic opportunity. Officials confirmed that nationals from both the Central African Republic and Cameroon were among the casualties following the landslide.
Abdon Adamou, the mayor of Garoua-Boulai in Cameroon, stated that four Cameroonians and two Chadians were among the dead. Grégoire Mvongo, the governor of Cameroon’s Eastern region, told state-owned radio that he was working in close collaboration with our Central African colleagues to deal with the aftermath of this tragedy
while authorities prepared to repatriate the injured and the deceased.
Legal Investigation and Criminal Liability Focus
Authorities in the Central African Republic launched formal inquiries to determine accountability for the disaster. AP News noted that the Baboua subprefecture court issued a statement outlining the scope of the inquiry, which aims to establish why the tunnels collapsed, identify the victims, determine who operated the site, and assess potential criminal liability.
Mines Minister Rufin Benam Beltoungou offered condolences to the families of the victims while issuing public warnings regarding the severe hazards associated with unregulated extraction work according to ministry statements.
Structural Risks of Unregulated Artisanal Gold Mining
The tragedy highlights the persistent dangers inherent in small-scale mineral extraction across the region.
Landry added that the walls of hand-dug pits reaching several meters deep remain unstabilized, leaving them exceptionally vulnerable to heavy rainfall and structural failure during wet weather conditions. At least 40 people have died in several mining incidents within the Central African Republic this year alone prior to this catastrophic event.
