25 reported killed as mine collapses in Central African Republic

At least 25 people have been reported killed when a gold mine collapsed near the Central African Republic town of Bambari, an official said on Friday.

At least 27 artisanal miners were buried in the collapse of the mine on Thursday and 25 bodies have been retrieved.

The mine collapse is the latest setback for the country, which has been working to restore calm after sectarian conflict between Muslim and Christian militia.

A senior official at the Ministry of Mines confirmed the mine collapse and casualties. He said the mine did not follow regulations and miners were working in dangerous conditions.

“Nobody from our service is on the ground to regulate the miners so they dig without any rules. Lower than three meters it gets dangerous and with rain there can be collapses,” the official, Georges Yacinth-Oubaouba, told reporters.

There was no immediate comment from Axmin – the company that runs the mine.