At least 30 miners have been killed after a gold mine collapsed in the Central African Republic, with several others reportedly still trapped deep underground as rescue efforts continue.
The accident occurred on Tuesday morning, August 18, in the Abba area of Nana-Mambere prefecture. Florian Gaguende, a miner who survived the collapse, described the scale of the disaster as devastating, raising fears that many of those trapped underground may have little chance of being rescued alive.
Nana-Mambere Deputy Mayor Souleimane B told AFP that rescuers recovered the bodies of 30 miners from the collapsed mine during the day. Several injured workers were also rescued alive and taken to a local hospital for treatment.
He described the incident as a major disaster and said local authorities sought assistance from residents alongside government rescue teams. Many people subsequently joined the rescue operation voluntarily.
Video footage from the scene showed the difficult and chaotic conditions faced by rescuers. In one video, several miners covered in mud were seen attempting to pull a body from a deep section of the mine.
Authorities have yet to establish the total number of people killed or missing in the collapse. Rescue operations are continuing in an effort to locate those who remain trapped, and the death toll could rise.
Government spokesperson Evariste Ngamana expressed condolences to the families of those who died and said authorities were working to provide necessary assistance and relief to families affected by the disaster.
Mining accidents are not uncommon in the Central African Republic, where hundreds of small-scale gold mines operate and provide livelihoods for large numbers of people. Poor safety standards and inadequate infrastructure frequently contribute to mine collapses and other deadly accidents.
Source: AFP, NDTV