Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
2h ago

At Least 32 Dead in Bridge Collapse at DRC Cobalt Mine

Officials say security gunfire triggered a stampede onto an improvised crossing over a rain-filled trench.

Imagen de archivo de un militar congoleño en el este de RDC.
Tragedia en el Congo: al menos 32 muertos luego de un derrumbe en una mina de cobalto. (Captura de pantalla)
Image
El colapso estructural se produjo el sábado en el puente de la mina Kalando, ubicada en la localidad de Mulondo. | Crédito: canva (ilustrativa)

Overview

  • Authorities have recovered 32 bodies and say searches continue, while a SAEMAPE preliminary report estimates about 40 fatalities.
  • The Kalando site had been officially closed because of heavy rains and landslide risk, yet large numbers of artisanal miners forced entry.
  • A wooden platform placed over a water-filled trench failed as miners tried to flee after gunfire, leaving victims trapped or drowned.
  • The trench had been dug by a Chinese-owned operator as a security barrier, according to the government agency’s report.
  • Provincial officials visited the site, suspended operations pending an evaluation, and initiated inquiries as safety lapses and long-running disputes in the cobalt sector face renewed scrutiny.