Ask Onix
Bridge collapse at DR Congo cobalt mine leaves dozens dead
At least 32 people were killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday when a makeshift bridge collapsed at the Kalando cobalt mine, local officials confirmed. The incident followed a confrontation between unauthorized miners and military personnel guarding the site in Mulondo village.
Chaotic confrontation triggers structural failure
According to Roy Kaumba Mayonde, a local official, miners forcibly entered the southern Kalando mine despite an active ban. Witnesses reported that security forces fired weapons, sparking panic among the miners. As they rushed to flee across a self-constructed bridge, the unstable structure gave way under the sudden weight.
The Congolese military has not publicly addressed the allegations of gunfire. Two injured miners-one with a thigh wound, another with a hand injury-were treated for bullet wounds, journalist Olivier Kayumba told the BBC after visiting the scene. Mayonde later confirmed non-fatal gunshot injuries but denied any fatalities from bullets.
Systemic risks in artisanal mining
The disaster underscores persistent dangers in DR Congo's informal mining sector, where an estimated 1.5 to 2 million people work without regulation. The industry supplies critical minerals like cobalt-vital for electric vehicle batteries, aerospace, and defense-but operates amid chronic reports of child labor, human rights violations, and corruption.
Mayonde described the collapse as "tragic" and noted that mining companies frequently face illegal incursions. The bridge, built by miners themselves, failed under the strain of a "hasty" evacuation, he added.
Government response and calls for reform
Congolese authorities urged artisanal miners to participate in government-backed agribusiness training programs, framing the initiative as a safer alternative. Unverified images circulating on social media purportedly showed victims' remains, though their authenticity could not be confirmed.
The Kalando mine, located in Lualaba Province, is part of DR Congo's vast cobalt production network. The country dominates global supply, but extraction practices remain under international scrutiny for ethical and safety failures.
"Mining companies in DR Congo are frequently victims of this type of invasion by illegal miners."
Roy Kaumba Mayonde, local official
