At least 43 people killed in Congo copper mine bridge collapse

A bridge collapse at a semi-industrial copper mine in the Luluaba province of Congo has killed 43 people. Local authorities say the death toll could rise as many of the injured are in critical condition.

This is reported by Reuters .

The incident occurred at the Kalando mine on Saturday. Representatives of the artisanal mining agency said the collapse caused mass casualties and that the exact death toll could be much higher than previous estimates.

Officials said 49 people were killed and 20 others were taken to hospitals in critical condition. The incident occurred during work on a local bridge that collapsed after a sudden panic.

At the same time, according to Al Jazeera, the death toll has risen to 43 people.

A statement from the SAEMAPE agency said the collapse was caused by chaos at the work site.

“The panic was caused by shots fired by the military guarding the area,” SAEMAPE said.

After the shots were fired, the miners began to flee en masse from the work site.

“People began to crush and fall on each other, leading to numerous injuries and deaths,” SAEMAPE added.

The Human Rights Initiative has called for an independent investigation into the military’s actions, saying it has received reports of clashes between soldiers and miners.

Local authorities also confirmed a large number of deaths.

“We have recorded 32 deaths as of Sunday evening,” said provincial Interior Minister Roy Kaumba.

Army representatives have not yet provided an official comment.

Artisanal mining accidents are common in Congo. Dozens of people die every year while working in poorly equipped mines, where miners work without proper equipment and supervision.

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