At least 107 miners killed as gold mine collapses in Central African Republic
At least 107 artisanal miners have lost their lives due to a devastating gold mine collapse and subsequent landslide in the western Central African Republic (CAR). This tragic event took place on the morning of Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at an unlicensed, low-tech mining site in the village of Zamboye (also known as Zamboï), situated in the Abba region of the Nana-Mambéré prefecture near the border with Cameroon. The catastrophe occurred when several underground shafts and tunnels gave way, resulting in a significant landslide that buried hundreds of workers beneath heavy mud and water. Local officials and relief volunteers have confirmed the recovery of 107 deceased individuals thus far, while rescue and recovery teams continue to search through the debris as more victims remain unaccounted for. The combination of heavy rainfall and inadequately supported structures led to the collapse of multiple underground tunnels, causing a large mass of earth to fall and engulf the open-air ...