At least 22 people have died in a collapse at an unlicensed gold mine at Kampene in Maniema Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. The incident happened at about 2.00 pm local time on Wednesday 2 October 2019, when a large number of people were digging in the open pit mine, including pregnant women and children, with local reports saying that at least two women are among the dead. Initial reports that only twelve people had died have been raised after more bodies were found and some of those being treated in hospital for their injuries died. The mine had reportedly been operating for arbour ten years, with local authorities either unaware of it or turning a blind eye to its existence. The provincial government in Maniema has agreed to pay for the hospital treatment of the survivors and the funerals of those who died.
An illegal gold mine at Kampene in Maniema Province, Democratic Republic of Congo, where at least 22 people died in a collapse on 2 October 2019. 24HCongo.
The Democratic Republic of Congo one of the world's largest producer
of precious metals, but benefits little from
the industry. The country has suffered years of political instability
and has extremely poor infrastructure, is heavily indebted and has a
chronic corruption problem, which means that little of the wealth
generated from the industry makes it into government coffers, and that
which does is unlikely to be spent on development or other projects
likely to benefit the population. These problems are made worse by a
series of conflicts in the area, which plays host to rebel groups
opposed to the Congolese government and militiamen that fled the 1994
conflict in Rwanda and have never returned. In addition the area has
suffered incursions from several neighbouring countries, mostly with an
official purpose of defending borders against Congo's instability, but
with a strong interest in the coltan industry. Militia groups linked to
neighbouring states also operate in the area, and again are said to be
involved in illegal mining.
The lack of government control of the area, and low regard for human
life held by many of the groups operating in the area, means that safety
precautions at mines in the area are almost non-existent, with many
mines simply being large holes dug into poorly consolidated sediments.
The area suffers extremely high levels of rainfall (it is the source
from which the Congo, Nile and Zambesi rivers originate), and mines can
rapidly turn into death-traps as their sides turn to mud and collapse
upon the miners.
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