At least 32 people have died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to a collapse in a mine.

On Saturday, 32 illegal miners lost their lives in a cobalt mine in southern Democratic Republic of Congo, following a collapse. The accident occurred at the Kalando mining site, operated by the company Pajeclem, where miners forced their way in despite the official ban due to heavy rains and the risks of landslides. Local authorities announced that search operations are underway, and so far, 32 bodies have been recovered.

Illegal miners, estimated to exceed 200,000 across the country, work in dangerous conditions and are often victims of violence and corruption in the sector. The incident was exacerbated by panic and the crowding of miners at the time of the collapse, according to a report from the Artisanal Mining Assistance Service. The Kalando site is the subject of a dispute between illegal miners and a mining cooperative, and activities in the area have been suspended. This accident highlights the serious issues in the cobalt industry in the DRC, including child exploitation and dangerous working conditions.