At least 30 people died on Saturday after a bridge collapsed at a semi-industrial copper (and cobalt) mine in southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, officials said. The disaster occurred amid panic as miners tried to flee, leading to a deadly crush.
The incident took place at the Kalando mining site, in Lualaba province, where hundreds of wildcat (informal) miners were reportedly working despite a ban on access due to heavy rains and landslide risks.
According to an official from the artisanal mining agency, there were 49 fatalities and 20 others were hospitalized in critical condition, Reuters reported.
The agency, known by its French acronym SAEMAPE (Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Support and Guidance Service), said the collapse was “caused by panic, reportedly triggered by gunfire from military personnel securing the site.”
SAEMAPE added that miners “piled on top of each other, causing injuries and death,” in its statement.
Roy Kaumba Mayonde, Lualaba’s provincial interior minister, later confirmed 32 dead, saying rescue teams had already recovered that many bodies.
Human rights groups are demanding an independent investigation into the military’s role, citing reports that the gunfire may have sparked panic among the miners.
Artisanal mining plays a significant role in the DRC economy, employing an estimated 1.5 to 2 million people and supporting millions more indirectly.
