Gold mine collapse kills at least 30 in Central African Republic
BANGUI, Central African Republic — A gold mining site collapsed Tuesday in the western part of the Central African Republic, killing at least 30 miners and trapping others, authorities and residents said, reports BritPanorama.
The low-tech, artisanal mine collapsed Tuesday morning in the Abba region of the Nana-Mambere prefecture, according to Florian Gaguende, one of the surviving miners. He said rescuers were searching for additional miners believed trapped, but that the chance of finding them alive “is getting slimmer.”
The sub-prefecture’s deputy mayor, Souleymane Bi, stated that rescuers and residents managed to retrieve 30 bodies from the collapsed mine over several hours, and that injured miners were receiving treatment.
“It is horrible and we are calling for help from organizations and all people of goodwill to help pull from the hole those who are unable to do so,” Bi said.
Footage from the scene captured chaotic rescue efforts, showing miners, mainly young individuals covered in mud, pulling out a body from the pit while dozens of others were scattered around the expansive site, some shouting for help.
Government spokesman Evariste Ngamana expressed condolences to the families of the victims and noted that authorities are “working hard to provide relief and assistance” to those affected.
Artisanal mine collapses are common in the Central African Republic, where several thousand people work in small-scale extraction mining. The work is risky because miners typically do not have adequate protection, and such accidents are often fatal.
