[TheCruxofBag]

A landslide at a gold mining area in Zamboï in western Central African Republic (CAR), near the border with Cameroon, has killed more than 100 people. The low-tech mine gave way amid the collapse of several underground tunnels where miners were working, according to a statement from the Baboua public prosecutor’s office.

It is not immediately clear what triggered the landslide at the mine. The mayor of a Cameroonian border town said that so far "107 lifeless bodies [had been] removed from the rubble". Several survivors were critically injured, and others remained missing or trapped under rubble.

Artisanal and often informal gold mining is a key livelihood for thousands in the Central African Republic, but weak regulation, deep unsupported pits and tunnels, and poor safety standards, alongside pits being usually left unsealed and allowing rain to weaken the soil, make collapses and landslides frequent.

[kellyhound]

poverty makes people do dangerous and stupid things.

[DarkSighted]

"It is not immediately clear what triggered the landslide at the mine." Uh, gravity? Murphy's Law? Complete disregard for human life? The 3rd paragraph? :D

Why did the 7 Dwarfs get kicked outta the bar?
Because they're miners.

[pokerplay]

stevie nicks called and said, i told you so.

[AllegedlyHere]

I imagine that there were some minor miners mining during the incident.

[Mr_Shlaapu]

Newly opened ground looks promising for gold.

[Mr.NoCredit]

The whole town lives there. Only a few people are working while the rest of them have nothing better to do than standing around gawking at the 20 or so miners working or dying, that too.

[docfr8]

The scale reminded me of the anthill and the sandbox days as a child.. lots of people and all the moving dirt