The incident happened Saturday at the Kalando mine in Mulondo, Lualaba province. Provincial Interior Minister Roy Kaumba Mayonde said the bridge gave way after “illegal diggers” forced their way onto the site despite a ban put in place due to heavy rains and landslide risks.
A report from Congo’s artisanal mining oversight agency, SAEMAPE, said soldiers fired shots at the scene, triggering panic among miners who then rushed onto the bridge. The surge of people caused the structure to collapse, leaving victims “piled on top of each other.”
While the provincial government reported at least 32 deaths, SAEMAPE said the toll could be over 40.
The agency noted that the presence of soldiers at the mine has been a longstanding point of tension between unlicensed miners, a local cooperative, and the site’s legal operators.
Congo is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, a key component in batteries for electric vehicles. The industry has faced persistent allegations of child labor, dangerous working conditions, and corruption.
The tragedy comes as eastern Congo continues to grapple with violence involving government forces and armed groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23, whose renewed offensive has deepened the region’s humanitarian crisis.
