Politics · India Bureau
Central African Republic closes gold mine after deadly collapse kills 100+
Authorities in the Central African Republic have shut down the Zamboye gold mining site following a catastrophic collapse that claimed more than 100 lives. The government cited serious breaches of mining standards and administrative regulations.
LSN India ·
The Central African Republic's government has ordered the closure of the Zamboye gold mining site in the western region after a collapse earlier this week resulted in over 100 deaths, with several others injured in the incident.
Mines and Geology Minister Ruffin Benam Beltoungou announced the immediate closure on Saturday, stating the site had failed to comply with established mining standards and administrative directives. An investigation into the circumstances of the collapse is ongoing, according to official sources.
The disaster represents the latest in a series of mining accidents affecting the mineral-rich nation. Experts attribute such incidents to weak regulatory oversight and inadequate safety measures, particularly in small-scale extraction operations where a substantial portion of the population depends on mining for survival.
Workers in the region face significant occupational hazards due to insufficient protective equipment and limited enforcement of safety protocols. Search and rescue operations at the site have encountered logistical challenges, hampering efforts to locate survivors among the debris.