Last Updated on November 17, 2025 8:04 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
WEB DESK
Thirty-two people lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after a makeshift bridge at a copper and cobalt mine collapsed under the weight of a large crowd. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday in the southeastern province of Lualaba, where a group of wildcat miners had entered the restricted mining zone despite an official ban triggered by heavy rainfall and fears of a landslide.
Authorities said the miners were attempting to cross the temporary bridge when it gave way, sending many plummeting into the ravine below. A report from the DRC’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Support and Guidance Service noted that soldiers stationed at the site had fired shots, allegedly to disperse the miners, which caused panic and contributed to the chaotic rush toward the bridge.
In the aftermath, the Initiative for the Protection of Human Rights called for an independent investigation into the military’s involvement, citing accounts of clashes between miners and security forces. The organisation urged authorities to establish responsibility for the deaths and ensure greater protection for artisanal miners who often work in hazardous and unregulated conditions.