A major mining tragedy has struck the Central African Republic, where a landslide at the Zamboy gold mining site has killed at least 100 people.

The mining site is located around 50 kilometres from the town of Bambari, where hundreds of artisanal miners reportedly work. A section of the open-pit mining area collapsed, burying people in its path.

Survivors have been taken to hospitals, while search and recovery operations continue. Authorities say the exact number of people inside the mine when the accident occurred remains unknown.

The local public prosecutor said the landslide may have been triggered by the collapse of several underground tunnels where miners were operating. A judicial inquiry has been opened into the disaster.

Small-scale and informal mining remains widespread in parts of Africa, despite regulations and safety concerns. Unemployment and the search for livelihoods continue to push workers toward abandoned or unsafe mining sites.

Central African Republic Gold Mine Landslide Kills At Least 100, Rescue Operations Underway

More than 100 individuals lost their lives after an artisanal gold mine collapsed in western Central African Republic near the border with Cameroon, officials confirmed. The incident took place on Tuesday (August 18) in the village of Zamboye, located a few kilometres from Garoua-Boulai, a town in eastern Cameroon. Following the incident, the deputy mayor of Nana-Mambere prefecture in the Central African Republic, Souleymane Bi, stated that rescuers and residents pulled 30 bodies from the collapsed mine over several hours on Wednesday, and all injured miners were receiving treatment. “It is horrible, and we are calling for help from organisations and all people of goodwill to help,” Bi said. A local civil servant said around 40 people died at the site. “At this stage it’s difficult for us to establish a formal toll,” Baboua local official Laurent Ngon Baba told news agency AFP. A miner at the site identified as Cedric Mbango, described the incident as “catastrophic”. “The ground completely collapsed and buried people. As I speak to you, other people are still buried. Rescue attempts are under way,” he told AFP.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-announces-crushing-economic-campaign-against-iran-threatens-allies-with-tremendous-penalties-1787186991774">Trump announces ‘crushing’ economic campaign against Iran, threatens allies with ‘tremendous’ penalties</a><h3>Informal mining operations carry significant danger</h3>Government spokesperson Evariste Ngamana offered condolences to the victims' families and said officials are making efforts to deliver aid and support to those impacted. Such mine collapses are a recurring problem in the Central African Republic, where thousands of people are involved in small-scale, informal mining operations that fall outside state oversight. This kind of work carries significant danger, as miners often lack adequate safety measures, making fatal accidents common. A similar incident occurred in June 2026, when a mine collapse near the Cameroon border at the Be-Mbari gold site claimed dozens of lives. Earlier, in mid-March, seven people died in a landslide at a mining site in Ngourroum, located in the country's west. And in February, 20 more lives were lost in a mining accident in Gordi, in the northeast.

The deputy mayor of Nana-Mambere prefecture in the Central African Republic, Souleymane Bi, stated that rescuers and residents pulled 30 bodies from the collapsed mine over several hours on Wednesday, and all injured miners were receiving treatment.

More than 100 individuals lost their lives after an artisanal gold mine collapsed in western Central African Republic near the border with Cameroon, officials confirmed. The incident took place on Tuesday (August 18) in the village of Zamboye, located a few kilometres from Garoua-Boulai, a town in eastern Cameroon. Following the incident, the deputy mayor of Nana-Mambere prefecture in the Central African Republic, Souleymane Bi, stated that rescuers and residents pulled 30 bodies from the collapsed mine over several hours on Wednesday, and all injured miners were receiving treatment. “It is horrible, and we are calling for help from organisations and all people of goodwill to help,” Bi said. A local civil servant said around 40 people died at the site. “At this stage it’s difficult for us to establish a formal toll,” Baboua local official Laurent Ngon Baba told news agency AFP. A miner at the site identified as Cedric Mbango, described the incident as “catastrophic”. “The ground completely collapsed and buried people. As I speak to you, other people are still buried. Rescue attempts are under way,” he told AFP. Also read: Trump announces ‘crushing’ economic campaign against Iran, threatens allies with ‘tremendous’ penalties Informal mining operations carry significant danger Government spokesperson Evariste Ngamana offered condolences to the victims' families and said officials are making efforts to deliver aid and support to those impacted. Such mine collapses are a recurring problem in the Central African Republic, where thousands of people are involved in small-scale, informal mining operations that fall outside state oversight. This kind of work carries significant danger, as miners often lack adequate safety measures, making fatal accidents common. A similar incident occurred in June 2026, when a mine collapse near the Cameroon border at the Be-Mbari gold site claimed dozens of lives. Earlier, in mid-March, seven people died in a landslide at a mining site in Ngourroum, located in the country's west. And in February, 20 more lives were lost in a mining accident in Gordi, in the northeast.

The deputy mayor of Nana-Mambere prefecture in the Central African Republic, Souleymane Bi, stated that rescuers and residents pulled 30 bodies from the collapsed mine over several hours on Wednesday, and all injured miners were receiving treatment.

Over 100 people dead after gold mine collapses in Central African Republic

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Central African Republic Gold Mine Landslide Kills At Least 100, Rescue Operations Underway

Over 100 people dead after gold mine collapses in Central African Republic