KINSHASA
At least 32 people were killed on Saturday after a bridge at the Kalando mine in Mulondo, Lualaba province, southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) collapsed due to overcrowding, authorities said on Sunday.
Roy Kaumba Mayonde, Lualaba’s interior minister, told reporters that the bridge gave way after illegal miners forced their way into the restricted site despite warnings about heavy rains and a heightened risk of landslides.
“Despite the strict prohibition on accessing the site due to heavy rainfall and the risk of landslides, illegal diggers forced their way into the quarry,” Mayonde said during a press briefing.
A report by the government agency overseeing artisanal and small-scale mining, SAEMAPE, indicated that panic erupted after soldiers deployed at the site fired warning shots. The gunfire triggered a stampede as miners rushed onto the bridge, causing it to collapse.
While provincial authorities put the death toll at at least 32, SAEMAPE reported that no fewer than 40 people had died, with many others injured.
Rescue efforts were ongoing Sunday as officials worked to verify the number of victims and secure the disaster-prone site. Authorities have urged miners to follow safety restrictions as the region continues to experience heavy rainfall.
