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.
