More than 100 people were killed when an artisanal gold mine collapsed in the Central African Republic on Tuesday, a senior official at a local mining association said. 

A prosecutor confirmed there had been a mine collapse in the village of Zamboye near the border with Cameroon but said the number of deaths and other details were still being established.

The prosecutor said in a statement that rescue efforts were continuing and an investigation would be opened to establish the cause and who was running the site.

A diamond and gold dealer inspects nuggets of gold in his shop on March 15, 2021 in the capital Bangui, Central African Republic.
A diamond and gold dealer inspects nuggets of gold in his shop on March 15, 2021 in the capital Bangui, Central African Republic. (credit: Siegfried Modola/Getty Images)

Cameroonian authorities ready to receive, treat any injured people crossing border

Cameroonian authorities said they were ready to receive and provide medical care to any injured people who crossed the border.

Artisanal mining supports livelihoods across Africa, but weak regulation and poor safety standards often lead to deadly accidents.