Gold mine collapses in Central African Republic, killing at least 30 miners

A gold mine collapsed in the western region of the Central African Republic on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 miners and leaving others trapped, according to authorities and residents. Florian Gaguende, one of the surviving miners, stated that rescue teams were searching for additional miners believed to be trapped, but the likelihood of finding them alive was decreasing.

The sub-prefecture's deputy mayor, Souleymane Bi, reported that 30 bodies had been recovered from the collapsed mine and that injured miners were receiving medical attention. Bi expressed a plea for assistance from organizations and individuals willing to help rescue those unable to escape from the mine. Artisanal mining is prevalent in the Central African Republic, where thousands of people are employed in small-scale extraction activities.

The risk associated with this type of mining is significant, as miners often lack adequate safety measures.