New footage shows deadly landslide burying gold miners in Central African Republic
Newly released video captures the moment the ground collapsed at the Zamboye gold mine in the Central African Republic, burying people nearby. Officials now put the death toll at 49, with search efforts still underway.
Newly surfaced footage from the Central African Republic shows the harrowing moment the ground gave way at the Zamboye artisanal gold mine, engulfing people gathered at the site. The collapse was filmed from close range by Freddy Metchoubatchou, who was present when it happened on 18 August.
The mine sits in Nana-Mambéré prefecture, roughly 50 kilometres from the town of Baboua near the border with Cameroon. Prosecutors in Baboua say the disaster may have been triggered by the collapse of several underground tunnels.
As of 21 August, rescue teams were still combing the site for victims, though the exact number of people who were underground when the ground collapsed remains unclear. Recovery work has been slowed by a shortage of equipment and specialised expertise.
Death toll disputed
In the immediate aftermath, local officials, Red Cross volunteers and mining representatives put the death toll above 100. The Mines Ministry has since issued a lower provisional figure of 49 dead — 34 Central African nationals, 13 Cameroonians and two Chadians. Seven injured survivors were taken to hospital in Baboua.
Authorities have temporarily shut down the mine and launched a judicial investigation into what caused the collapse, including possible violations such as illegal mining and undeclared employment.
Artisanal mining provides a crucial source of income for thousands of people across the Central African Republic, but many sites lack adequate safety gear, structural reinforcement and emergency-response capacity. This marks the second fatal mine collapse near the Cameroonian border since June.
