More than 100 people were killed when an artisanal gold mine collapsed in the Central African Republic on Tuesday, according to a senior official from a local mining association.

The collapse occurred in the village of Zamboye, near the border with Cameroon, according to a prosecutor, who confirmed the incident but said authorities were still working to establish the exact death toll and other details.

Rescue operations were continuing at the site, the prosecutor said in a statement, adding that an investigation would be launched to determine what caused the collapse and identify those responsible for operating the mine.

The scale of the disaster remained unclear as emergency teams worked to search the collapsed site and determine whether additional miners were trapped underground.

Cameroonian authorities said they were prepared to receive injured people who crossed the border and provide them with medical treatment.

Artisanal and small-scale mining provides livelihoods for millions of people across Africa, particularly in areas where formal employment opportunities are limited. However, the sector is frequently associated with inadequate safety measures, weak regulation and dangerous working conditions.

Mine collapses and other accidents have repeatedly caused large numbers of deaths among artisanal miners across the continent, highlighting longstanding concerns over safety standards and regulatory oversight. (ILKHA)