The accident occurred on Tuesday morning in the village of Zamboye, in the Nana-Mambere prefecture, near the border with Cameroon. The artisanal mining operation, with limited technology, collapsed while several people were working inside.
In addition to the deceased, several survivors were seriously injured and were attended to during the rescue efforts. Authorities fear that the number of victims may increase, as there are still missing persons and others could remain trapped under the rubble.
The prosecutor of the Baboua sub-prefecture court announced the opening of an investigation to clarify the causes of the collapse, identify the victims, and determine possible criminal responsibilities related to the mine operation.
Accidents in artisanal mines are common in the Central African Republic, where thousands of people work in small-scale mining. The lack of protective equipment and precarious working conditions make this activity a high-risk job, with frequent deadly consequences.