At Least 32 Killed in DRC Mine Bridge Collapse

At least 32 people died and dozens more were injured when a makeshift bridge collapsed at a copper and cobalt mine in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials confirmed Sunday, in a tragedy that highlighted ongoing safety risks in the country's artisanal mining sector.

The incident unfolded Saturday at the Kalando mine in Lualaba province, where heavy rains had flooded a trench and prompted provincial authorities to ban access due to the threat of landslides. Despite the order, thousands of informal wildcat miners forced their way onto the site, which has long been embroiled in disputes between the miners, a local cooperative tasked with organizing operations, and the legal operators, including companies with Chinese involvement.

Provincial Interior Minister Roy Kaumbe Mayonde stated that the collapse occurred as miners crowded onto the temporary bridge, designed to span the flooded area, causing it to give way under the weight. Bodies piled atop one another in the trench below, leading to the fatalities and injuries. Recovery efforts continued into Sunday, with at least 20 people hospitalized in critical condition.

A report from Congo's Artisanal and Small-Scale...