Central African Republic shuts down collapsed gold mining site that killed more than 100

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — The Central African Republic's government closed down a gold mining site on Saturday that collapsed earlier this week, killing over 100 people. Minister of Mines and Geology Ruffin Benam Beltoungou announced the shutdown of the Zamboye site in the western part of the country, citing non-compliance with mining standards and administrative directives.

An ongoing investigation into the collapse of the gold mine is underway. Several other individuals were injured in the incident. This latest mining disaster adds to a series of such events in Central African Republic, a mineral-rich nation where many depend on small-scale extraction mining for their livelihood. These miners often face high risks due to insufficient protection and weak regulation.

The search for survivors was hampered by a lack of expertise and equipment to handle the scale of the disaster. Despite the site already being closed prior to the accident, illegal miners continued working there. Quentin Ngbouando, leader of the civil society organization I Gwe, stated that it was clear and natural for the minister to make this decision, but the illegal gold miners were operating outside the legal framework.