At least 40 artisanal miners were killed over the weekend, after a makeshift bridge collapsed at the Mulondo mining site in the Mutshatsha territory, southern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The tragedy unfolded as hundreds of miners reportedly fled following gunfire from soldiers tasked with securing the concession.
According to reports, 34 bodies were transported to a regional morgue, while families retrieved the remains of approximately ten others.
Several miners sustained injuries, including two gunshot wounds. As of Sunday evening, authorities had not released an official death toll.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that soldiers opened fire during a routine security operation, prompting miners to flee across a temporary bridge spanning a deep drainage trench. Under the weight of the panicked crowd, the bridge collapsed, sending dozens plunging into the trench below.
Provincial mining authorities noted that the Mulondo site frequently experiences tensions among artisanal miners, cooperatives, and private operators, often fueled by illegal access to mineral deposits.
Rescue and recovery efforts continued on Sunday, as local human rights groups called for an independent investigation to determine accountability for the disaster.
