LUALABA, Democratic Republic of Congo — A bridge at the Kalando copper and cobalt mine in Mulondo, southeastern Congo, collapsed on Saturday, killing at least 32 people, according to provincial officials.
Interior Minister Roy Kaumba Mayonde said the collapse occurred after illegal diggers forced their way into the quarry despite a ban due to heavy rainfall and landslide risks.
Panic Triggered by Gunfire
A report from Congo’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Support and Guidance Service (SAEMAPE) said gunfire from soldiers at the site sparked panic among miners, who rushed onto the bridge. The overcrowding caused the structure to give way, leaving victims “piled on top of each other.” SAEMAPE put the death toll at 40, higher than the official figure.
Dispute Over Mining Control
The presence of soldiers at the mine has long been a source of tension between wildcat miners, a cooperative meant to organize operations, and the site’s legal operators.
Congo is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, a key mineral used in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and other products. Chinese companies control about 80% of production in the country.
Industry Under Scrutiny
The collapse highlights ongoing concerns about unsafe conditions, child labor, and corruption in Congo’s mining sector. Mineral-rich eastern Congo has also been destabilized for decades by armed groups and government forces, including the Rwanda-backed M23, whose resurgence has worsened the humanitarian crisis.