Mine Collapse in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025)

Mining Accident in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025) is an incident that occurred on 15 November 2025 at the Kalando mine in the Lualaba Province in the southeastern part of the country, following the collapse of a temporary bridge, resulting in the deaths of at least 32 miners.

The incident began when the bridge collapsed due to overcrowding in an area known for copper and cobalt production, trapping numerous workers in a ditch below filled with water.

Cause and Course of the Incident

On Sunday, 16 November 2025, Lualaba Province’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Roy Kaumba Mayonde, stated that the accident resulted from “miners attempting to cross the bridge in a rush.” According to Mayonde, although access to the mine had been officially banned due to heavy rainfall and the risk of landslides, illegal miners (“illegal diggers”) forcibly entered the site in violation of the prohibition.

The bridge had been constructed temporarily to allow passage over a water-filled ditch. During the incident, the large crowd of miners converging on the bridge exceeded its load capacity, causing the structure to collapse.

A preliminary report issued on Monday, 17 November 2025, by the Democratic Republic of the Congo Small-Scale Mining Support and Guidance Service (SAEMAPE), indicated that the accident occurred following a panic triggered by soldiers opening fire. According to the report, military gunfire caused widespread panic among the miners, who then rushed en masse toward the bridge, which collapsed during the chaos, resulting in deaths and injuries.

The same report noted that for a long time there had been disputes in the Kalando mine between legal operators, a cooperative, and local miners, and that Chinese capital partners were involved in the mine’s operations.

Loss of Life and Rescue Operations

During initial rescue efforts between 15 and 16 November 2025, it was confirmed that at least 32 workers had lost their lives. Search and rescue operations to reach those trapped under the debris continued on 17 November 2025. Authorities stated that the operations were conducted with great difficulty due to heavy rainfall, which caused mud and water accumulation.

Official Statements and Investigation Process

On 16 November 2025, in a press statement, Minister Roy Kaumba Mayonde announced that an investigation had been launched into the accident. Mayonde emphasized that illegal entries into the mine site, which had been closed due to severe rainfall, triggered the tragedy.

On 17 November 2025, the Lualaba Provincial Administration suspended all activities at the Kalando mine. On the same day, the Initiative for the Protection of Human Rights called for a independent investigation into the role of military forces in the incident, requesting verification of reports that clashes had occurred between soldiers and miners at the mine site.

Military authorities have made no public statement regarding the incident. Arthur Kabulo, Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission in Lualaba, stated that over 10,000 illegal miners were working at the Kalando mine.

Economic and Social Context of the Mine

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is, as of 2025, the world’s largest producer of cobalt. Cobalt is a strategic element in the production of lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicle technologies. Approximately 80 percent of the country’s cobalt production is controlled by Chinese companies.

In recent years, the Lualaba region has drawn attention due to security gaps, inadequate infrastructure, and illegal mining activities linked to increased mining operations. Human rights organizations report that child labor, violations of workplace safety, and corruption are widespread in the mining sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.