More than 100 people have been killed following the collapse of an artisanal gold mine in the western part of the Central African Republic. The disaster occurred at an illegal mining site located near the border with Cameroon.
According to the Baboua public prosecutor, the incident is believed to have been caused by the collapse of several underground tunnels in which miners were operating. An official at a local mining association confirmed the death toll on Wednesday.
Rescue operations are currently ongoing as teams search for more trapped miners. However, authorities state that hope for the survival of those still underground is fading.