At least 50 people are feared dead after the tragic collapse of a mine in Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
The incident occurred on 11 September in a mine near the town of Kamituga in South Kivu province in the east of the country. Such accidents are common in DR Congo’s mining industry, which has poor safety standards. However, media reports suggest flooding caused the mine to collapse. Local observers said torrential rainfall in the area caused a nearby river to break its banks, flooding several tunnels in the mine.
Governor of South Kivu province, Theo Kasi, offer his condolences and said a delegation has been deployed to the site to provide urgent assistance and he provincial government has ordered an investigation to establish responsibilities.
A statement from the office of the President, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, said the President is “deeply saddened after the announcement of the disappearance of some fifty artisanal miners in Kamituga in South Kivu.
“He offers his deepest condolences to the bereaved families. He invites the whole Nation to have a pious thought for these compatriots.
“The Head of State invites the Government to take strong measures so that such tragedies do not happen again.”
Social Media
Images from #Kamituga, east DR #Congo where at least 50 ppl are thought to have died after an artisanal gold mine collapsed. Area produces nearly all Congo’s gold but artisanal excavation techniques are unregulated & highly dangerous. @juliakim6 #breaking #Goma #Kamituga pic.twitter.com/rw5QaE6CIa
— 🌎 Sarwar 🌐 (@ferozwala) September 11, 2020
About 50 people were killed, most of them young, during the collapse of three artisanal gold mines, Friday, September 11, 2020, near the town of Kamituga, in the province of South Kivu, in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Please treat #DRC as you treated #Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/vKqIt8pqkW
— Comrade Désiré (@ncambirwa) September 12, 2020
At least 50 people are thought to have died when an artisanal gold mine caved in near Kamituga in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a local organization said https://t.co/KQWVIK4w59 pic.twitter.com/3mUkCRkWbq
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 12, 2020
#RDC 12.09.2020| #CitéUA Le Président de la République Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo est profondément attristé après l’annonce de la disparition d’une cinquantaine de creuseurs artisanaux à Kamituga dans le Sud-Kivu.
— Présidence RDC 🇨🇩 (@Presidence_RDC) September 12, 2020
24h après le drame qui a causé plusieurs morts d suite de l’éboulement d’un puits minier à Kamituga, ns venons d’envoyer une délégation sur place afin d’apporter une assistance urgente et avons ordonné une enquête pr établir les responsabilités. Nos pensées aux familles éplorées.
— Theo KASI (@TheoKASI) September 12, 2020
