Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – On November 16th local time, authorities in Lualaba Province, southern Democratic Republic of Congo, reported that a makeshift bridge at a copper-cobalt mine in the province collapsed on the 15th due to overcrowding, resulting in at least 32 deaths.
According to Reuters and other media reports, Lualaba Province Interior Minister Roy Kaumba Mayonde stated at a press conference that the Mulundo mine, located in the village of Kawama, had been strictly prohibited from entering by authorities due to the risk of landslides. However, illegal miners attempted to force their way into the mine on the 15th, triggering the bridge collapse and causing multiple fatalities.
According to Turkish Daily Sabah, AFP, and other media reports, Mayonde said that after the accident, local authorities organized search and rescue operations and suspended all manual mining activities in the area. As of now, rescue workers have recovered 32 bodies, and several people remain missing. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.
According to reports from the Associated Press and other media outlets, the Support and Guidance Service for Artificial and Small-Scale Mining (SAEMAPE) under the Ministry of Mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo released an investigation report on the 16th, stating that security personnel at the mining area fired warning shots after discovering the illegal miners attempting to enter the mining area. The gunshots triggered panic among the crowd, causing them to rush towards a makeshift bridge. However, due to the large number of people, the illegal miners pushed and shoved each other, ultimately causing the bridge to collapse.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is rich in mineral resources, and the mining industry is a major economic pillar of Lualaba Province. However, illegal mining remains a persistent problem. (End)
