An artisanal mine collapsed on Thursday, March 12, 2026, morning in the Central African Republic, killing eight people and injuring five others, according to miners at the scene.
The accident occurred in the mining town of Nourroum, the capital of Ouham-Péndé prefecture in the country’s northwestern region.
Alban Moussa Yakata, a mine operator in Nourroum, told The Associated Press that the victims were deep inside the mine digging when the collapse occurred. He described the moment as devastating, saying those nearby felt helpless as the tragedy unfolded.
Authorities from the Ministry of Mines and Geology had not responded to requests for comment. Mine collapses are common in the Central African Republic, where thousands of people depend on small-scale artisanal mining for their livelihoods, often working in hazardous conditions with little protective equipment despite government licensing of mining cooperatives.