BANGUI, August 24, 2026: Authorities in the Central African Republic have closed the Zamboye artisanal gold-mining site after a collapse that local officials and Red Cross workers said killed more than 100 people.
The disaster occurred on Tuesday, August 18, at the mining site in Zamboye village, Nana-Mambéré prefecture, near the country’s border with Cameroon. The number of people working at or beneath the site when it collapsed has not been reliably established.
Disputed Casualty Figures
Casualty figures remain disputed. A local Red Cross volunteer involved in the recovery and a senior official from a local mining association reported that more than 100 people had died. However, Mines and Geology Minister Rufin Benam Beltoungou gave a provisional government toll of 49 deaths, comprising 35 Central Africans, 12 Cameroonians and two Chadians, according to Reuters.
Authorities have not issued a reconciled final toll. Several people were reported injured, while others were believed to remain beneath the debris. No verified figure for the missing was available as of August 24.
Rescue Efforts and Site Closure
Local workers and Red Cross volunteers participated in search and recovery efforts, but the response was hampered by limited equipment and a lack of specialist expertise for an incident of this scale. Rescuers continued recovering bodies during the days following the collapse, according to Associated Press reporting.
The government formally shut the site on Saturday, citing failures to comply with mining standards and administrative directives. AP reported that Zamboye had already been officially closed before the disaster, but unauthorised mining continued there without effective oversight.
Investigation and Safety Concerns
A prosecutor in Baboua has opened an investigation to determine what caused the collapse, identify the victims, establish who was operating the site and examine possible criminal responsibility. Reports have described a landslide and the failure of underground workings, but authorities have not yet announced a final determination.
Artisanal gold mining provides income for thousands of people in the Central African Republic. Many sites rely on hand-dug pits and tunnels with limited structural reinforcement, protective equipment or emergency capacity. Weak enforcement and continued activity at unauthorised sites leave miners particularly vulnerable to collapses, flooding and unstable ground.
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Reader questions
Frequently asked questions
How many people died in the Zamboye gold mine collapse?
Casualty figures are disputed. Local officials and Red Cross workers reported more than 100 deaths, while the government provided a provisional toll of 49.
Where is the Zamboye mine located?
The mine is located in Zamboye village, in the Nana-Mambéré prefecture of the Central African Republic, near the border with Cameroon.
Why did the government formally close the mine?
The government formally shut the site citing failures to comply with mining standards and administrative directives. Reports indicate the site was already officially closed before the disaster, but unauthorized mining continued.
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