A manually operated gold mine in a village in the western Central African Republic near the Cameroon border collapsed, killing more than 100 people, with several still trapped beneath the debris.
On 20 August 2026, senior officials from the Central African Republic's Mining Association revealed that a small-scale, manually operated gold mine in the village of Samboy in the country's west collapsed on Tuesday, 18 August, resulting in over 100 deaths.
The collapse occurred near the Cameroon border. Local prosecutors confirmed the mine collapse but could not yet specify the exact death toll as authorities continue gathering information and investigating. Officials said search and rescue operations are ongoing, with plans to launch an inquiry into the cause of the collapse and identify those managing the mine.
Bertrand B. Yengue, a youth council member from Samboy village, said the death toll is likely to rise because people remain missing and trapped under the mine's rubble. He described finding survivors still alive under the debris as miraculous. He added that the tragedy has deeply saddened the community, as most victims were young men and women supporting their families.