Bridge Collapse at DRC Cobalt Mine Kills 32 Wildcat Miners Amid Chaos

At least 32 wildcat miners lost their lives when a makeshift bridge collapsed at the Kalando cobalt mine in the Lualaba province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Saturday, authorities confirmed. The disaster occurred as miners rushed across the bridge over a flooded trench, despite warnings and access bans due to heavy rainfall. Rescue operations are ongoing, with more victims feared trapped beneath the debris.

Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the provincial interior minister, said the bridge failure was triggered by the frantic movement of miners attempting to cross the structure. “Despite a formal ban on access due to heavy rains and the risk of landslides, wildcat miners forced their way into the quarry, causing the bridge to collapse,” he said. The ensuing panic was exacerbated by the presence of soldiers at the mine, according to a report from the SAEMAPE government agency, which monitors mining cooperatives in the region.

The Kalando mine has long been a hotspot of tension between wildcat miners, legal operators, and cooperatives meant to regulate mining. Allegations of unsafe working conditions, corruption, and child labor have plagued the DRC’s cobalt sector for years, with more than 200,000 people estimated to work in informal and illegal cobalt operations across the country.

Images from the scene show miners digging frantically to recover bodies, with at least 17 victims laid out nearby. The provincial authorities have temporarily suspended mining activities at Kalando to ensure safety and investigate the disaster.

Cobalt, a key component in electric vehicle batteries, laptops, and mobile phones, accounts for over 70% of the world’s supply from the DRC. The tragic incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by miners in the informal sector, where safety standards are minimal, and the drive for mineral wealth often comes at a deadly cost.

Local officials stressed that this tragedy underscores the urgent need for stronger regulations, safer mining practices, and better oversight in the DRC’s mineral-rich provinces. The international community has long called for reforms in the cobalt sector to protect workers and prevent exploitation, yet disasters like this remain alarmingly frequent.