🔥 Trending Gold Mine Collapse in Cameroon and CAR Claims Over 100 Lives

On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, a gold mine collapsed in Zamboye, a border village located between Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR) ¹³. The incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. local time ¹.

Casualties and Scope of the Disaster

The collapse resulted in a significant loss of life and a large number of trapped miners. Initial reports indicated dozens of miners were killed ¹³. However, the death toll has varied across different reports:

• Xinhua initially reported dozens killed ¹, but later cited Cameroon's state media CRTV putting the death toll at over 100 ².
• Local sources told AFP that at least 100 people died in the Central African Republic side of the border ⁶.
• Cameroon Concord News reported at least 33 deaths from a landslide at a gold mine in Garoua-Boulaï, a location within the East Region of Cameroon, which borders CAR ⁴.
• X (formerly Twitter) reports also mentioned dozens killed and over 100 others feared trapped underground ⁵.

Cameroonian officials clarified that while Zamboye is a border village, the mine collapse occurred on the CAR side ². Mvongo, a Cameroonian official, stated that about three to five Cameroonians died in the incident ².

Rescue Efforts

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with authorities "doing everything possible to rescue victims" ²⁵. The precise number of individuals still trapped underground remains uncertain, but reports suggest over 100 people might be unaccounted for ⁵.

Location Details

The incident took place in Zamboye, a village situated on the border between the two countries. The mine itself was an illegal gold mine ⁶.