Hopes of finding survivors from a collapsed gold mine in Central African Republic have all but faded, as local workers and officials confirm that the recovery efforts are severely hampered by the lack of essential equipment and expertise.

The mine, located in Zamboye near the border with Cameroon, collapsed on Tuesday following a landslide, resulting in the deaths of over 100 people and leaving many more buried under debris.

Rescue Efforts Stymied by Inadequate Resources

Local workers and officials have expressed deep concern over the lack of necessary equipment and expertise to undertake a rescue operation of such scale and complexity.

“The rescue effort is being organized, but it is not up to the task,” said Jérémie Ngbiri, a miner at the site who lost his brother and a friend in the collapse. “I saw some victims suffocate as people tried to rescue them.”

The local Red Cross, which has been assisting with the search, has confirmed that more than 10 bodies were recovered on Thursday morning alone, with the death toll expected to rise further.

“Every hour, bodies are being discovered, increasing the number of victims,” said volunteer Gervais Ganagoro. “We continue to find bodies.”

The mine collapse is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by artisanal miners in Central African Republic, where thousands of people work in small-scale mining operations with little protection or regulation.

Artisanal mine collapses are common in the region, often due to the lack of adequate reinforcement and safety measures, which can lead to sudden tunnel collapses and the burial of miners.

Researchers and local media have reported on the issue of unsafe and unregulated mining in the area, highlighting the involvement of armed groups and the use of extraction methods that pose significant health and environmental risks.

A 2025 report by U.N. experts documented illicit mining in the region, including the use of armed groups and the extraction methods that pose health and environmental risks.