Local authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have announced that at least 32 informal miners have died after a temporary bridge collapsed at the Kalando cobalt mine in Lualaba province.
According to news sources, the incident occurred yesterday at the Kalandu mine, about 40 kilometers southeast of the city of Kluwezi, the capital of Lualaba state.
The temporary bridge, built to cross a flooded area, collapsed due to overcrowding by miners, Lowalaba State Interior Minister Roy Kamba Maiwon told a press conference.
According to reports, illegal miners forced their way into the mine and stormed the bridge, causing it to collapse, despite access being restricted due to heavy rains and the risk of landslides.
The Democratic Republic of Congo produces more than 70 percent of the world’s cobalt, an essential material for batteries in electric cars, laptops and smartphones.
