Bridge Collapse at DR Congo Cobalt Mine Kills at Least 32 Miners

A bridge collapsed at a cobalt mine in southeast Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killing at least 32 wildcat miners, a regional government official said Sunday

The incident occurred Saturday at the Kalando mine in Lualaba province, about 42 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of the provincial capital, Kolwezi. The bridge fell onto a flooded zone at the mine, trapping the miners

Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the provincial interior minister, said 32 bodies had been recovered, with searches ongoing for more victims

Despite a formal ban due to heavy rains and landslide risks, miners forced their way into the quarry. Authorities said the bridge collapsed as miners rushed across a makeshift structure designed to cross a flooded trench

A report by the SAEMAPE government agency indicated that the presence of soldiers at the mine caused panic, worsening the accident

The Kalando mine has been at the center of disputes between wildcat miners, the mining cooperative responsible for organizing digging, and the legal operators, reportedly involving Chinese interests. The report stated that miners “piled on top of each other,” causing multiple deaths and injuries

Images from the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) showed miners recovering bodies, with at least 17 laid out nearby. Provincial authorities have suspended operations at the site

 Also read : Businessman Arrested in Marsabit for Alleged Terror Financing via Cryptocurrency

DRC produces over 70 percent of the world’s cobalt, a key component in batteries for electric vehicles, laptops, and mobile phones

However, the industry has long faced accusations of dangerous conditions, child labor, and corruption. Mineral wealth in the DRC has also fueled conflict in the country’s east for more than three decades

Writer : Mweru Mbugua