Central Africa shuts gold mine after deadly collapse
The Central African Republic has temporarily shut a gold mine near the Cameroonian border after a landslide killed dozens of people earlier this week, the country’s mines minister said Thursday. Rufin Benam-Beltoungou visited the Zamboye artisanal gold mine on Wednesday and put the official death toll at 49. The minister confirmed this included 34 Central […]
A deadly landslide at a gold mine on the Cameroon-Central African Republic border has exposed the risks and inadequate safety measures surrounding gold mining operations in Central Africa. The accident at the Zamboye mining site, near the border with Cameroon, resulted in the deaths of at least 49 people, with some witnesses and victims' relatives reporting up to a hundred fatalities.
The mine, known for its dangerous conditions, was operating at full capacity with nearly 500 workers, many of whom were young people seeking employment ahead of the new school year. In response, the Central African government has temporarily closed the site and launched an investigation, while the Cameroonian government has confirmed the deaths of at least four of its citizens and is collaborating with Central African authorities to address the aftermath.
The incident has reignited debates over the management of artisanal gold mines in the region, with calls for increased oversight and investment in safety infrastructure to prevent future tragedies.
Brief written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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