More than 100 killed in gold mine collapse in western Central African Republic

More than 100 people were killed in a landslide at a traditionally mined gold mine in the western Central African Republic, near the border with Cameroon, as search operations continued amid fears that the death toll could rise.

The collapse occurred on Tuesday at the "Zamboui" mining site, approximately 50 kilometers from the city of Bambari, according to local sources cited by the Agence France-Presse. The sources indicated that around 100 people were killed and others injured, while authorities have not yet announced a final official death toll.

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A local official in Bambari said it was difficult at this stage to determine a final casualty count, as rescue teams continued searching for missing persons at the site. The public prosecutor in Bambari stated that the collapse was believed to have been caused by the failure of several underground tunnels where miners were working, and announced the opening of a judicial investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported earlier that at least 30 workers were killed in a landslide at a traditional mine in the Aba area of the Nana-Mambéré prefecture in the western Central African Republic, noting that search operations for those trapped were still ongoing.

Xinhua News Agency also reported that the incident occurred in the village of Zamboui on the border between the Central African Republic and Cameroon, and that media in both countries spoke of the possibility that the death toll could exceed 100, with no final official figure released so far.