Overview
- The mine collapsed during morning operations in the Abba area of Nana-Mambéré on Tuesday, leaving at least 30 people dead and others trapped and injured.
- Rescue work has continued into the night with residents and local teams using rudimentary tools, and a surviving miner said the chance of finding more survivors is getting slimmer.
- Casualty figures remain uncertain because local reports vary, with officials confirming 30 bodies recovered and a civil servant telling AFP the toll could be about 40.
- Local leaders have appealed for outside humanitarian and technical assistance while the government says it is mobilizing relief and treatment for the injured.
- The collapse follows several deadly artisanal mine accidents in the Central African Republic this year and highlights how informal, low‑tech pits without safety measures make large losses from single failures more likely.