Gold mine hit by deadly landslide in CAR near border with Cameroon
More than 100 people have been killed and rescue efforts are continuing, an official tells the BBC.
A deadly landslide has struck a gold mining site in Zamboï, located in the western Central African Republic (CAR) near the Cameroonian border, resulting in over 100 fatalities, an official informed the BBC.
Online videos reportedly depict a slope giving way and engulfing a crowd of individuals at the site, while others scrambled to safety. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, according to Adamou Abdon, the mayor of Garoua-Boulaï, a Cameroonian border town, who spoke to the BBC.
Rescue operations are currently in progress, with concerns that the number of casualties may increase. Abdon stated that the cause of the landslide at the mine near the border was not immediately apparent, adding that "107 lifeless bodies [had been] removed from the rubble" thus far.
Cedric Mbango, a miner present at the site, told the AFP news agency, "The ground completely collapsed and buried people. As I speak to you, other people are still buried."
The governor of Cameroon's East Region informed state media that at least four of the victims are Cameroonian. Grégoire Mvongo confirmed that their bodies were being returned home for burial, and provisions were being made for those injured in Zamboï.
According to AFP, survivors are being transported to a hospital in Baboua, a CAR town approximately 50km (31 miles) from the mining location.
Local media in the CAR report that authorities have initiated an investigation into the potential cause of the landslide. AFP cited a statement from the public prosecutor in Baboua, suggesting that "the collapse of several underground tunnels in which miners were operating" is believed to be responsible.
Artisanal mining, a labor-intensive method of mineral extraction, serves as the primary income source for many families in the region. Working conditions are often substandard, exposing miners to health and environmental hazards. Mine collapses and landslides are frequent occurrences, as pits are typically left open and heavy rains destabilize the soil.