"A total of 25 bodies have been extracted from the mine. However, two bodies are still buried beneath," Ahmadinejad Ibrahim told Anadolu Agency. Ndakossi Ancelme, a trader in Ndassima, told AA by phone that a group of young men entered the mine on Thursday morning to look out for gold.
"As it rained, the land collapsed, causing a tragic landslide," he added, noting that heavy rains are common at this time of the year in the area.
A similar mine collapse in Ndassima – also caused by heavy rains – killed 52 people in 2013, promoting former president Michel Djotodia to declare national mourning for three days.
The gold mines in Ndassima were run by Aurafrique, a subsidiary of the Canadian company Axmin, before Seleka rebels managed to take over the site following a 2013 offensive.
Landlocked CAR descended into anarchy last year when Seleka rebels ousted then-president Francois Bozize – a Christian who had come to power in a 2003 coup – and installed Djotodia in his place.
Amid a high wave of sectarian violence, Djotodia, a Muslim, stepped down in January to be replaced by Catherine Samba-Panza, a Christian who had formerly served as mayor of capital Bangui.
Central African Republic gold mine collapse kills 27
23 Ağustos 2014 Cumartesi 20:45
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