Tragedy at the cobalt mine in Congo
In the Lualaba province in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a tragedy occurred when a bridge collapsed at an artisanal cobalt mine, resulting in the deaths of at least 32 people. The incident took place on November 15, 2025, but the death toll may rise as rescue operations are ongoing. The miners' association has already reported 49 dead and dozens missing.
At an illegal cobalt mine in Congo, a collapse occurred, killing at least 32 people. The final death toll is currently unknown pic.twitter.com/5x0l3WOLNy
— GLAVCOM (@GLAVCOM_UA) November 17, 2025
According to rescuers, two versions of the tragedy are currently being prepared. According to apnews.com, one of the reasons for the bridge's collapse is soil erosion due to heavy rains. The head of the provincial Ministry of Internal Affairs, Roy Kaumba Mayonde, emphasizes that illegal miners had entered the quarry, disregarding the ban due to the risk of landslides.
According to the radio station RFI, the bridge built by the miners collapsed due to a conflict with the mine's security. It was reported that security guards used firearms to disperse the miners, resulting in damage to the structure and its collapse.
Global reaction to the collapse in Congo
The governor of the region, Fifi Massuka, noted that Congo is the largest producer of cobalt in the world, but about 80% of the mining is controlled by Chinese companies. At the same time, according to information from Bloomberg, the US presidential administration may gain access to the tantalum project in Congo on the condition of successfully ending the military conflict in the country.
It is also worth noting that in the medical zone in the northeastern part of Congo, 24 cases of dangerous bubonic and pneumonic plague have been recorded since April 2025.
The tragedy at the cobalt mine in Congo has led to the deaths of at least 32 people, but the death toll may rise. The bridge's collapse has sparked discussions about the safety of coal mines and the impact of global political events on Congo's resource policy.