Central African Republic closes gold mine after collapse kills 49

Central African Republic authorities have ordered an artisanal gold mine near the ​Cameroonian border to be closed after ‌the mines minister said 49 people had died there in a deadly collapse.

Mines Minister Rufin Beltoungou said the government would formally ​suspend activity at the site in Zamboye ⁠until further notice following the disaster ​on Tuesday.

Beltoungou said the dead were of 35 Central ​Africans, 12 Cameroonians and two Chadians.

A senior official at a local mining association had said on Wednesday ​that more than 100 people had ​been killed.

A prosecutor said rescue efforts were continuing, ‌and ⁠said the number of casualties was still being established.

Artisanal mining is a vital source of work and income across Africa, but ​informal operations often ​function ⁠with limited oversight, inadequate safety measures and little emergency capacity, making ​collapses and other fatal accidents frequent.

Cameroon ​has ⁠pledged to formalise parts of the sector, seeking to improve regulation, safety and tax ⁠collection.