At least 32 people were killed in southeastern Congo when a bridge at a mine collapsed due to overcrowding, according to authorities. The incident occurred at the Kalando mine in Mulondo, Lualaba province, on Saturday. Despite a strict prohibition on accessing the site due to heavy rainfall and landslide risks, illegal miners forced their way in, leading to the tragic accident. The bridge collapse was triggered by panic among miners, who were shot at by soldiers, causing them to rush towards the bridge and pile on top of each other. The death toll was initially reported as at least 32 by the province's interior minister, Roy Kaumba Mayonde, while a government agency report suggested a higher number of at least 40 fatalities. This incident highlights the ongoing dispute between wildcat miners, a cooperative, and legal operators at the mine. Congo, a major cobalt producer, has a mining industry plagued by child labor, unsafe conditions, and corruption, with Chinese companies controlling 80% of production. The region has also been torn apart by violence from government forces and armed groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23, whose resurgence has exacerbated an already severe humanitarian crisis.
