At least 32 people have been confirmed dead after a bridge at the Kalando copper and cobalt mine in Lualaba Province, southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, collapsed under the weight of overcrowding. Local authorities say the tragic incident occurred on November 15 as miners attempted to cross the structure, which was being used as a shortcut over a flooded trench within the mining site. Emergency teams and community volunteers have since been working through difficult terrain to recover bodies and search for possible survivors.
Jocomms Correspondent reports that the bridge was a makeshift construction fashioned by miners to ease movement across the waterlogged section of the mine. Officials say the temporary structure gave way as dozens of miners crowded onto it at once, causing a catastrophic fall into the trench below. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as people rushed to help, while others raised concerns over long-standing safety issues in the artisanal mining sector, where informal and improvised structures are common.
Authorities in Lualaba Province have launched an investigation into the collapse, promising to identify lapses and enforce stricter safety measures at mining sites. With artisanal mining remaining one of the country’s most dangerous livelihoods, many are now asking—how many more lives must be lost before proper safety standards become non-negotiable? Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.
