Gold mine collapse in Central African Republic kills over 100

Aug 19, 2026

An artisanal gold mine collapsed on August 18, 2026, in the western Central African Republic village of Zamboye, killing more than 100 people. The disaster occurred near the Cameroon border when a landslide caused underground tunnels to cave in. Red Cross volunteer Gervais Ganagoroh confirmed the recovery of over 100 bodies, including several Cameroonian nationals. While rescue operations continue using heavy machinery, local prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation to determine liability and establish the cause of the collapse.

Zamboye gold mine collapse

▪An artisanal gold mine collapsed on the morning of August 18, 2026, in the village of Zamboye, located in the Nana-Mambere prefecture of the western Central African Republic.
▪The gold mine collapse in Zamboye on August 18, 2026, was triggered by a landslide that caused several underground tunnels to cave in.

Artisanal mining safety failures

▪Prior mining accidents in the Central African Republic in 2026 killed dozens of people at the Be-Mbari site in June, seven people in Ngourroum in March, and 20 people in Gordi in February.
▪Small-scale artisanal mining in the Central African Republic operates with weak safety standards and minimal protection, leading to frequent and deadly accidents.
▪Chinese mining companies in the region frequently partner with local businessmen to locate gold and deploy heavy machinery, often leaving deep pits unfilled and open after departing.

Death toll exceeds 100

▪Red Cross volunteer Gervais Ganagoroh and local officials confirmed on August 19, 2026, that more than 100 bodies had been recovered from the collapsed Zamboye gold mine.
▪Local officials in the Central African Republic initially reported varying lower death tolls, with Baboua official Laurent Ngon Baba citing difficulty establishing a formal toll and deputy mayor Souleymane Bi reporting 30 recovered bodies.

Ongoing rescue operations

▪Rescuers and local residents in Zamboye are using heavy machinery, including tractors, to clear rubble and search for survivors trapped under the collapsed earth.
▪The Central African news outlet Corbeau News reported that the use of heavy machinery in the Zamboye retrieval mission could jeopardize the survival of individuals still trapped alive.

Cross-border impact on Cameroon

▪The governor of Cameroon's Eastern region, Grégoire Mvongo, stated on August 19, 2026, that Cameroonian authorities identified at least three of their citizens among the deceased victims.
▪Cameroonian authorities announced they were prepared to receive and provide medical treatment to any injured miners crossing the border from the Zamboye collapse site.

Criminal investigation launched

▪The public prosecutor at the Baboua sub-prefecture court announced that an investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the collapse and identify the operators of the Zamboye site.
▪The Baboua sub-prefecture court's investigation aims to establish potential criminal liability regarding the operation and subsequent collapse of the artisanal gold mine.