Dozens Killed in Gold Mine Landslide in Western Central African Republic

Authorities in the western part of the Central African Republic (CAR) say dozens of laborers were killed Tuesday afternoon when a landslide buried them at the illegal Zamboye mining site near the Cameroon border — about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the town of Baboua.

Death tolls have ranged from "at least 30" initially to "over 100," with local authorities saying the window for survival is quickly closing for the many miners still buried at the site.

Video uploaded to social media platforms showed bodies churning in earth as the landslide lunges into the open-pit site beneath, burying everything in its path.

Frantic rescue activities continued on Wednesday with reports of mud-covered young men and women pulling bodies from the mine's collapsed entrance, as still more screamed for help.

"The collapse of several underground tunnels in which miners were operating," was given as the cause of the collapse by the Baboua public prosecutor's office, which also announced that an investigation had been launched.

CAR government spokesman Evariste Ngamana expressed sympathy and pledged the government was "working hard to provide relief and assistance."

What is the state of CAR's 'artisanal' mines?

Improvised "artisanal" mines in the gold-rich region are often illegal and shoddily built, following limited or no safety standards whatsoever.

That means the thousands of laborers who use their hands to mine for gold every day, put their lives at risk each time they enter one.

Serious accidents are a regular occurrence and these are usually very deadly.

Dozens of miners have been killed in landslides in the area since the beginning of the year.