At least 30 miners were killed when a gold mining site collapsed in the western part of the Central African Republic.
A gold mining site in the Abba region of the Nana-Mambere prefecture collapsed on Tuesday, killing at least 30 miners. The low-tech, artisanal mine collapse occurred in the western part of the Central African Republic, leaving several other miners trapped beneath the debris. Souleymane Bi, the sub-prefecture's deputy mayor, confirmed that rescuers and residents spent several hours pulling 30 bodies from the pit. Florian Gaguende, one of the surviving miners, noted that while rescue efforts continue, the chances of finding the remaining trapped miners alive are decreasing. Government spokesman Evarise Ngamana stated that authorities are working to provide relief to the families of the victims. Artisanal mining is a common but risky practice in the Central African Republic, where workers often lack sufficient protection, leading to frequent and deadly accidents.