Dozens Die as Bridge Collapses at DRC Copper and Cobalt Mine
Bridge Collapse at Kalando Mine Claims Dozens Amid Panic and Overcrowding
- At least 32 people died when a makeshift bridge collapsed at the Kalando copper and cobalt mine in Lualaba province, DRC.
- Heavy rains, a formal site ban, and panic caused by gunfire from soldiers contributed to the deadly incident.
- Authorities suspended mining operations, and human rights groups are calling for an independent investigation into the military’s involvement.
At least 32 people have been killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after a bridge collapsed at the Kalando copper and cobalt mine in southeastern Lualaba province, officials report. Some sources suggest the death toll could be as high as 40.
The tragedy occurred on Saturday when wildcat miners rushed across a makeshift bridge designed to cross a flooded trench. The bridge gave way under the crowd, leaving miners piled on top of each other, causing multiple fatalities and injuries.
“Despite a formal ban due to heavy rain and landslide risks, miners forced their way into the site,” said Roy Kaumbe Mayonde, Lualaba’s interior minister.
A report from the DRC’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Support and Guidance Service (SAEMAPE) indicated that gunfire from soldiers at the site sparked panic, prompting miners to rush to the bridge and triggering the collapse.
Kalando has been a flashpoint for conflict between unregulated miners, a cooperative meant to organize mining operations, and the legal operators of the site, reportedly with Chinese involvement. Arthur Kabulo, provincial coordinator for the National Human Rights Commission, said more than 10,000 wildcat miners were active at the site.
Authorities have suspended all mining operations at Kalando, and the Initiative for the Protection of Human Rights has called for an independent investigation into the military’s involvement in the incident.
