Central African Republic mine landslide kills at least 30

A landslide at an illegal gold mine in the Central African Republic has killed at least 30 people, with local sources estimating the toll could be significantly higher, according to officials and miners at the site. The collapse occurred on Tuesday afternoon, August 18, 2026, at the Zamboye mining site in the Nana-Mambéré prefecture, near the border with Cameroon.

Rescue operations were underway on Wednesday, with officials reporting that the final death toll remained unclear as crews continued to search for trapped miners. Souleymane Bi, the deputy mayor of the subprefecture, stated that rescuers and residents had pulled 30 bodies from the collapsed mine over several hours and that injured miners were receiving treatment. "It is horrible and we are calling for help from organizations and all people of goodwill to help pull from the hole those who are unable to do so," he said. Laurent Ngon Baba, an elected official from the town of Baboua, noted the difficulty in establishing a formal toll at this stage.

Video footage from the scene showed part of the ground at the huge open-pit site giving way and burying workers. Cedric Mbango, a miner present during the incident, described...