Rescuers recover more bodies after Central African Republic mine collapse kills over 100

An underground collapse triggered by severe landslides has leveled an informal gold mine in the border community of Zamboye, leaving over 100 miners dead. The site of the disaster—situated in the western reaches of the Central African Republic near the Cameroonian border, about 50 kilometers from Baboua—suffered a catastrophic structural failure when several subterranean tunnels caved in simultaneously. The collapse released a massive torrent of unstable, sandy earth that quickly buried the laborers working below.

Casualties and demographics Emergency workers and local Red Cross volunteers have retrieved upwards of 100 bodies from the debris. The victims consist of both Central African nationals and workers from neighboring Cameroon. Regional officials from eastern Cameroon are coordinating cross-border identification efforts.

Rescue concerns Recovery crews are currently using heavy excavators and machinery to clear the heavy soil layer. However, community leaders have expressed deep concern that using heavy equipment might crush any pockets of space where survivors could potentially be clinging to life. Outlook Local authorities have launched an inquiry to trace the exact cause of the structural failure.

Given that the precise count of workers inside the shaft during the cave-in remains unconfirmed, officials caution that the death toll will likely climb as recovery operations continue. The post Over 100 dead in Central African Republic mine collapse appeared first on Egypt Independent. BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — Hopes of finding survivors of a collapsed gold mine in Central African Republic were fading Thursday, two days after the disaster killed more than 100 people and left others buried under debris.

Rescuers continued recovering bodies from the artisanal mining site in Zamboye, near the border with Cameroon, but local workers said the response lacked the equipment and expertise needed for a disaster of such scale. “The rescue effort is being organized, but it is not up to the task,” said Jérémie Ngbiri, a miner at the site who lost his brother and a friend in the collapse. Ngbiri said he saw some victims suffocate as people tried to rescue them.

The local Red Cross was helping with the search but could not say how many people remained buried, volunteer Gervais Ganagoro said. “We continue to find bodies,” he said, adding that more than 10 were recovered Thursday morning alone. “Every hour, bodies are being discovered, increasing the number of victims.” The mine collapsed Tuesday after a landslide.