Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Kinshasa, November 17 (Xinhua) — The death toll from the mine bridge collapse in the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has risen to 49, local sources told Xinhua on Monday.
On Sunday, Lualaba Provincial Interior Minister Roy Kaumba Mayonde confirmed that the incident occurred on November 15 at the Mulondo mine in the Kawama district. Initial reports indicated 32 fatalities.
According to the minister, the "tragic incident" occurred after "illegal miners" entered the concession, which was closed due to heavy rains and the risk of landslides. To access the mine, they built a temporary bridge across a safety ditch. The bridge collapsed under the pressure of the crowd, and dozens of people fell into the ditch.
However, a statement from the Assistance and Supervision Service for Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining at the Ministry of Mines of the DRC stated that the incident was triggered by panic, which “could have been caused by shots fired by military personnel guarding the site.”
Provincial authorities have suspended all artisanal mining activities at the mine and announced a formal investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the tragedy and identify those responsible.
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