By: Mining.com.au

A gold mine in the western Central African Republic has collapsed, killing at least 30 miners, with more people trapped inside.

The low-tech, artisanal mine collapsed on the morning of 18 August 2026 in the Abba region of the Nana-Mambéré prefecture, according to survivor Florian Gaguende. He said rescuers were searching for additional miners believed to be trapped, although the chances of finding them alive were diminishing.

The deputy mayor of the sub-prefecture, Souleymane Bi, said rescuers and residents had retrieved 30 bodies from the collapsed mine, while injured miners were receiving treatment.

“It is horrible and we are calling for help from organisations and all people of good will to help pull from the hole those who are unable to do so,” Bi says.

The Associated Press reports that footage from the scene has captured a chaotic rescue effort, with young men and women covered in mud pulling bodies from the pit.

The incident comes just a week after 14 artisanal miners were reported dead following a mine dump collapse in South Africa.

The latest collapse highlights the safety risks associated with artisanal mining in the Central African Republic, where small-scale operations are widespread and often lack adequate safety measures.