Bridge collapse at Congo copper-cobalt mine kills at least 32

A bridge collapsed on 15 November 2025 at the Kalando mine, a copper and cobalt mining site in Mulondo, in the province of Lualaba Province in southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), resulting in at least 32 fatalities, provincial authorities said.

According to Interior Minister Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the collapse occurred after a crowd of informal workers (often referred to as "illegal diggers") entered the site despite warnings. The bridge was reportedly overwhelmed as miners attempted to cross during a rush prompted by troops firing at the site, triggering panic and sudden movement across the structure. 

The company regulatory agency SAEMAPE (Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Support and Guidance Service) reported that as many as 40 people may have died, though the official count remains at 32. 

Heavy rains had recently affected the area, and the mine’s access had been formally prohibited due to concerns over landslides and flooding, but the crowd entered the site nonetheless, contributing to hazardous conditions. 

The Kalando mine extraction zone is part of the DRC’s cobalt-rich Lualaba province, a region critical to global battery supply chains where informal and artisanal mining activities are widespread.