Yaoundé, August 21: A devastating gold mine collapse near the border between Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR) has resulted in the deaths of over 100 miners. According to local authorities and media reports, the incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, and rescue operations are still ongoing.
Gregoire Mwongo, the governor of Cameroon’s eastern region, stated that the disaster struck around 2 PM local time near the village of Zamboye. He noted that while the village is located at the border, the mine itself was situated on the CAR side. Initial reports indicated that between three to five Cameroonian citizens had died, with rescue teams working tirelessly to extract those trapped under the rubble.
Cameroon’s state broadcaster, CRTV, reported that the death toll has exceeded 100. Local media sources have confirmed that 107 bodies have been recovered from the debris so far.
However, after visiting the site, the Minister of Mines and Geology of the Central African Republic, Rufin Benam-Beltongu, confirmed the deaths of 49 individuals. He reported that among the deceased were 34 citizens from the Central African Republic, 13 from Cameroon, and two from Chad.
The minister also mentioned that some mine managers attributed the accident to the miners’ lack of discipline. He has ordered the mine to be temporarily closed.
A local resident, Origine Dokna, expressed that the entire area is in shock, with many families mourning their loved ones since Tuesday.
Local officials report that rescue teams are still attempting to reach miners who are feared to be trapped beneath the rubble.
In recent years, safety concerns regarding gold mines in Africa have been increasingly raised. Just last month, a mine collapse in Narok County, Kenya, resulted in the deaths of five miners.
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