Gold Mine Collapse Kills At Least 30 In Central African Republic, Search Continues For Trapped Miners

At least 30 miners were killed after an artisanal gold mine collapsed in western Central African Republic, with rescuers continuing a desperate search for others feared trapped beneath the rubble.

The mine collapsed on Tuesday morning in the Abba region of Nana-Mambéré prefecture, trapping miners inside the low-tech mining site. Rescuers and local residents immediately launched an operation to pull victims from the debris.

Florian Gaguende, one of the surviving miners, said efforts were continuing to locate additional people believed to be trapped. However, he warned that hopes of finding them alive were diminishing as the hours passed.

The sub-prefecture's deputy mayor, Souleymane Bi, said rescuers and residents spent several hours recovering bodies from the collapsed mine. Thirty bodies were pulled from the site, while injured miners were taken for medical treatment.

“It is horrible,” Bi said, appealing for assistance to help rescuers reach those who may still be buried beneath the collapsed earth.

The exact number of miners inside the site when it collapsed remains unclear, raising fears that the death toll could increase if more victims are found.

Government spokesman Evariste Ngamana expressed sympathy for the families of those killed and said authorities were working to provide relief and assistance to people affected by the disaster.

Artisanal mining provides a livelihood for thousands of people across the Central African Republic, but the work often comes with serious risks. Many small-scale mining sites operate with limited safety protections, making collapses particularly dangerous.

As the rescue operation continues in Abba, families are waiting anxiously for news of relatives who remain unaccounted for. For now, the confirmed death toll stands at at least 30, while hopes of finding additional survivors continue to fade.