More than 100 killed in gold mine collapse in Africa: 'Finding them alive would be a miracle'

More than 100 people were killed in the collapse of an artisanal gold mine in western Central African Republic, near the border with Cameroon. Rescue operations continue, but hope of finding survivors is fading. Among the dead are citizens from Cameroon and Chad. Authorities have opened an investigation.

More than 100 people were killed in the collapse of an artisanal gold mine in western Central African Republic, near the border with Cameroon. The disaster occurred on Tuesday in the village of Zamboya in Nana-Mambéré prefecture. The mine, where extraction is done using basic methods and limited safety conditions, collapsed after several underground tunnels caved in, causing a landslide that buried many miners. Volunteers from the Red Cross and local residents are working to rescue those trapped. More than 100 bodies have been recovered, but the exact number of missing is still unknown. Hope of finding additional survivors is fading. Bertrand Ba Yanga, a member of the local youth council, said: 'Finding them alive would be a miracle.' According to him, many of the victims were young people who came to work in the mine to support their families. Rescue operations continue, but workers in the area say there is not enough equipment and expertise to deal with the disaster. Among the dead are also citizens from Cameroon and Chad. Authorities in the Central African Republic have opened an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse and examine criminal responsibility. Small-scale gold mining is common in the country, and fatal accidents are a recurring phenomenon due to poor safety conditions.