The small village of Zamboye in western Central African Republic (CAR) has been struck by a terrible tragedy. On Tuesday afternoon, a catastrophic landslide engulfed an artisanal goldmine claiming the lives of more than 100 people. The mine is situated approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the town of Baboua and near the border with Cameroon.
The disaster unfolded rapidly, with social media footage capturing the moment an avalanche of sand descended upon the miners, burying them alive. The scale of the devastation has left the community in shock and rescue teams racing against time to find survivors.
The aftermath of the Zamboye goldmine collapse
A local public prosecutor’s statement confirmed that many individuals were trapped under the rubble, though the exact number of fatalities was initially unclear. However, Gervais Ganagoroh, a Red Cross volunteer involved in the relief efforts, reported to the Associated Press that over 100 bodies had been recovered. This grim tally was later corroborated by a senior official at a local mining association speaking to Reuters.
The incident has sparked an investigation by local authorities. A prosecutor from Baboua attributed the collapse to the failure of several underground tunnels where miners were operating. The sheer force of the collapse was described as catastrophic by Cedric Mbango, a miner at the site, who recounted, “The ground completely collapsed and buried people.”
Rescue efforts and international collaboration
Rescue teams are working tirelessly to retrieve the bodies of the victims and search for any survivors. The miners are believed to be nationals of both CAR and Cameroon. Authorities in Cameroon’s Eastern region have identified at least three of their citizens among the victims. Grégoire Mvongo, the region’s governor, expressed his commitment to collaborating with Central African colleagues to manage the aftermath of this tragedy.
Bertrand Be Yangué, a member of the Zamboye youth council, expressed the community’s despair, stating, “Finding them alive would be a miracle.” He added, “We are saddened and heartbroken to see young men and women perish after coming to the mines to save their families from despair.” The toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.
The dangers of artisanal mining
The Central African news website Corbeau News reported that heavy machinery, including tractors, is being used in the retrieval mission. However, this could potentially jeopardize the rescue of those still alive under the landmass. The exact number of people who were in the mine at the time of the cave-in remains unknown.
Artisanal mining is a common practice in various parts of Africa, despite regulations criminalizing it. Unemployment drives many able-bodied individuals to these abandoned or unused mines in search of a livelihood. The mining sites often operate with weak safety standards, leading to repeated incidents. This year alone, at least 40 people have died in several mining incidents in CAR.
The Zamboye goldmine collapse serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those working in such hazardous conditions. The international community watches closely as rescue efforts continue and the full extent of this tragedy unfolds.
