In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, villagers in a gold mining zone are using their bare hands and simple tools in a frantic effort to rescue miners trapped underground after a series of mine shaft collapses.
The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday in Lomera, South Kivu province. Six miners have been pulled out alive so far, one of them seriously injured, according to local journalist Ashuza Barack, who spoke to the BBC.
Conflicting reports have emerged over the number of casualties. While one resident claimed that 12 bodies had been recovered, Barack said no bodies had been found yet.
The area has been under the control of the M23 rebel group since earlier this year, after they seized large parts of DR Congo’s mineral-rich eastern region. M23 has dismissed claims that hundreds of miners are trapped underground.
Lomera saw a sudden gold rush at the end of last year when gold was discovered in the surrounding hills. What was once a quiet village quickly transformed into a chaotic landscape of mineshafts and makeshift shelters, as thousands arrived to work as artisanal miners. The medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) described the scene as “sprawling chaos” in a recent statement on a cholera outbreak in the area.
According to reports, a chain of landslides buried up to 15 of these unstable shafts without warning. Rescue teams have struggled to reach those still underground due to the lack of proper equipment, with large rocks and debris blocking access.
“We’ve been digging since Sunday night but have not recovered any bodies. We are exhausted,” one miner told the BBC.Journalist Barack noted that survivors say many miners remain trapped beneath the rubble.
Officials from the M23 group visited the site and have since ordered a halt to mining operations in parts of the area.This region of DR Congo is known for its unregulated mining sites, which supply important metals and minerals to the global electronics industry. Most sites lack proper supervison, and safety standards are rarely enforced.
Eastern DR Congo has also suffered years of violence as various rebel factions and the government battle for control over land and mineral resources. Earlier this year, M23 made major territorial gains, including capturing Goma, the main city in the east.
