20.08.2026 11:51
The toll is mounting in the landslide at a traditionally operated gold mine in the village of Zamboye in the Central African Republic, on the border with Cameroon. In the disaster, captured on camera as a huge mass of earth swallowed the workers, the lifeless bodies of 107 miners have so far been recovered, while efforts continue to rescue other workers trapped under the soil.
A disaster occurred in an unregulated gold mine operated using traditional methods near the village of Zamboye in the Central African Republic (CAR), close to the border with Cameroon. While work was being carried out at the mine site, a massive collapse occurred for a reason that has not yet been determined.
THE MOMENT THE EARTH SWALLOWED THE WORKERS CAUGHT ON CAMERA
In the images captured by a local citizen's mobile phone camera, the terrifying moments when the earth slid down in masses and literally swallowed dozens of people working in the mine were clearly visible. After the incident, which was marked by panic, the area turned into a scene of chaos.
SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE
Following the alert, local residents and search and rescue teams began a race against time to reach the miners trapped under the massive pile of earth. As a result of the intense efforts of the teams and villagers, the lifeless bodies of 107 workers have been recovered from under the collapse so far. While it is assessed that many miners are still under the soil, search and rescue operations continue uninterrupted.
CONDOLENCES AND AID STATEMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT
Following the tragedy, CAR Government Spokesperson Evariste Ngamana made a statement and offered his condolences to the families of the miners who lost their lives. Spokesperson Ngamana noted that the state is on the ground with all its resources to provide assistance to the citizens affected by the disaster and that efforts are ongoing. In the country, fatal collapses frequently occur in unregulated and primitively operated gold mines where security measures are insufficient.