Congo mine collapse killed more than 30 people

Published at: 17/11/2025 01:27 PM

The collapse of a passage structure in the Kalando copper and cobalt mine, in the province of Lualaba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, has caused the confirmed death of 32 workers.

The interior minister of Lualaba, Roy Kaumba, reported that miners illegally entered the deposit, located fifty kilometers from Kolwezi, despite current restrictions due to the risk of landslides after heavy rains, according to a press release from International Media.

The local press reported that the death toll could exceed 40. As of Sunday, 34 bodies were counted in the morgue and 10 handed over to their families. Search operations continue to pinpoint the total number of victims.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the makeshift bridge over a ditch with accumulating water collapsed when miners tried to flee after hearing gunshots. The director of the Assistance and Support Service for Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining presented the official report.

Mine security personnel fired after identifying the intrusion of illegal miners into the reserved area. The wooden structure used as an interim passage did not withstand the pressure of the crowd and collapsed.

Mazo News Team