Gold mine collapses in Central African Republic, killing at least 30 miners
A gold mine collapse in the Central African Republic killed at least 30 artisanal miners and trapped others. Rescuers are searching for survivors, but hopes are diminishing. This incident highlights the dangers of unregulated small-scale mining in the region.
Why it matters
This tragic event underscores the severe risks faced by artisanal miners in the Central African Republic, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety regulations, better working conditions, and humanitarian aid in a region where such collapses are common and often fatal.
A gold mining site collapsed on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) in the western part of the Central African Republic, killing at least 30 miners and leaving others trapped, authorities and residents said.
The low-tech, artisanal mine collapsed on Tuesday morning (August 18, 2026) 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, said rescuers and residents managed over several hours to pull 30 bodies from the collapsed mine and that injured miners were receiving treatment.
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