More than 100 killed in Central African Republic gold mine collapse

More than 100 people died Wednesday following a massive cave-in at an artisanal gold mine in the Central African Republic ^[1].

The disaster highlights the extreme dangers of unregulated small-scale mining in the region, where lack of safety oversight often leads to fatal structural failures.

The collapse occurred at a site near the town of Baboua, located close to the border with Cameroon ^[2]. Local authorities said that several mining shafts failed simultaneously, triggering a wide-scale collapse of the artisanal operation ^[3].

"The collapse of several shafts caused the tragedy," said the Baboua public prosecutor ^[4].

Rescue operations began immediately after the incident on Aug. 19, 2026 ^[2]. Emergency teams and local volunteers worked to clear debris from the shafts to reach those trapped beneath the earth. The mayor of Baboua said, "We are doing everything possible to rescue those still trapped."

While the death toll is confirmed to be more than 100 ^[1], officials said that many miners remain missing ^[5]. The number of fatalities is expected to rise as recovery teams reach deeper sections of the collapsed shafts.

Investigators believe the disaster was the result of unsafe mining practices ^[6]. Artisanal miners often dig deep, narrow shafts without professional engineering or structural supports, making them highly susceptible to cave-ins during excavation.

Reports from the scene indicate that the mine operated on a small scale, typical of the informal gold sector in the area. A DW correspondent said that more than 100 people are confirmed dead and many are still missing ^[5].