At least 33 people were killed when a landslide struck an artisanal gold‑mining site on the Cameroon–Central African Republic border. Municipal administrator Julien Martial Asse said many more miners are feared trapped under the debris. Rescue teams continued searching while several injured workers received treatment. Officials say the cause of the collapse and the exact number of people on site remain unclear, highlighting the dangers of informal, hand‑dug mining in the region.
At Least 33 Killed in Landslide at Artisanal Gold Mine on Cameroon–CAR Border; Dozens Feared Buried
FILE PHOTO - A man works in the Zola mine near Nzibira in the eastern Congolese province of South Kivu, searching for minerals and ores. (is associated with: «At least 33 dead in landslide at gold mine in Cameroon border area») Jürgen Bätz/dpa
At least 33 people have died after a landslide struck an artisanal gold‑mining site on the border between Cameroon and the Central African Republic, local officials said.
Julien Martial Asse, the municipal administrator of the nearby Cameroonian border town of Garoua‑Boulaï, said many more miners are believed to remain trapped beneath the debris. Authorities have not confirmed a final death toll and said the number of people prospecting at the site at the time of the collapse is still unknown.
Rescue Efforts Underway
Rescue teams worked through Wednesday searching for survivors after the collapse, which occurred around midday on Tuesday. Emergency responders and medical personnel treated several injured miners on site and at local clinics. Local officials said the situation on the ground remains fluid as teams continue digging through unstable debris.
The immediate cause of the landslide was not clear, and investigators had not released preliminary findings at the time of reporting. Artisanal gold mining in the border region is typically performed by hand in informal pits and tunnels, increasing the risk of collapses and serious accidents.
The Cameroon–Central African Republic border area is known for its gold deposits. Poor safety standards, limited regulation and precarious working conditions have made deadly incidents like this a recurring problem in the region. Local authorities have called for caution as recovery operations continue and for further investigation into the conditions that led to the collapse.
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