Dozens killed after gold mine collapse in Central African Republic

What the report says

Rescue work was continuing in western Central African Republic after an artisanal gold mine collapsed near the border with Cameroon, killing at least 30 people, according to officials cited by Al Jazeera. The incident was reported in the village of Zamboye, a few kilometres from Garoua-Boulai in eastern Cameroon, and happened on Tuesday, according to Cameroonian media and local officials.

Souleymane Bi, the deputy mayor of Nana-Mambere prefecture, said rescuers and residents recovered 30 bodies over several hours and that injured miners were being treated. A local civil servant told AFP that the death toll may be higher, while another official said it was still too early to confirm a final figure. A miner at the site described the collapse as severe and said people were still believed to be trapped.

Government spokesman Evariste Ngamana said authorities were offering support to affected families and working on relief efforts. The report also placed the disaster in broader context: artisanal mining is widespread in the Central African Republic, often operating outside state control and with limited safety protections, making collapses and other accidents common. Al Jazeera noted that similar incidents have killed dozens in the country in recent months, including at other gold mining sites near the Cameroon border and elsewhere in the east and west of the country.