Over 100 killed as improvised gold mine collapses in the Central African Republic
An improvised artisanal gold mine near the Cameroon border collapsed; rescuers report over 100 bodies recovered and more missing.
More than 100 people have died after an improvised, hand-dug gold mine collapsed in the western Central African Republic near the border with Cameroon, local officials said.
A Red Cross volunteer who took part in the rescue operation said rescuers have already recovered more than 100 bodies from beneath the rubble, and that some of the survivors are in critical condition.
A member of a local youth council warned the death toll could rise because an undetermined number of people remain unaccounted for and may still be trapped underground.
Prosecutor's office confirms casualties but no final figures
The prosecutor's office in the town of Boar, located in the western part of the Central African Republic, confirmed there are dead, injured and missing but has not released official, final numbers.
Illegal artisanal mining provides a livelihood for many communities across Africa, yet the absence of formal regulation and low safety standards frequently result in tragic accidents such as this collapse.
Photo: press material from the event
