Bangui, Aug. 24:
The Central African Republic government has ordered the closure of a gold mining site where a collapse killed more than 100 people, citing violations of mining regulations and administrative directives.
Mining and Geology Minister Ruffin Benam Beltoungou announced the closure of the Zamboye gold-mining site in the western part of the country as authorities continued investigating the deadly collapse. Several other workers were also injured in the disaster.
The government said the mine had failed to comply with required mining standards and administrative procedures. The closure is intended to prevent further accidents while authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
The disaster highlights the dangers associated with informal and poorly regulated mining operations in the Central African Republic, a mineral-rich country where gold mining provides livelihoods for thousands of people.
Mining accidents remain a serious concern across parts of Africa, particularly at sites where workers operate without adequate safety infrastructure, technical supervision or regulatory oversight.
The authorities are expected to investigate whether safety violations contributed to the collapse and whether operators had complied with the conditions required to conduct mining activities.
The tragedy has once again brought attention to the need for stronger regulation and safety standards in the country’s mining sector.