Efforts continue in DR Congo’s gold-mining region as local residents engage in desperate attempts to rescue miners missed by cascading landslides, amidst conflicting reports of fatalities and underlying conflict.
Trapped Miners in DR Congo: Rescue Efforts Continue Amidst Chaos
Trapped Miners in DR Congo: Rescue Efforts Continue Amidst Chaos
Rescue operations proceed with urgency as miners remain stranded beneath landslide debris in South Kivu, DR Congo.
In the wake of a significant gold rush, miners in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are facing peril as they struggle to rescue their trapped colleagues following a catastrophic landslide that buried multiple shafts. Local journalists report that survivors are using only their bare hands and basic tools to unearth those trapped since the collapse occurred in Lomera during the early hours of Sunday.
Despite some reports indicating that six miners have been successfully rescued, confusion surrounds the actual number of trapped individuals, with estimates suggesting up to 15 remain underground. A local resident claimed that 12 bodies had been discovered, but this has not been verified. Journalists on-site have reported a lack of recovery efforts for these bodies, indicating a dire situation that has left rescuers exhausted as they work tirelessly to uncover the fate of their peers.
The area, which has seen an influx of freelance or artisanal miners since the discovery of gold at the end of last year, is now marked by instability. M23 rebels currently control significant portions of South Kivu province, raising tensions as they faced allegations of worsening miner safety as mining activities were ordered to cease in impacted areas. The continuing conflict among various groups in the DRC complicates the safety and regulation of mining activities, which are crucial for the global electronics industry due to the minerals sourced from this region.
As fear of another landslide looms and hindered rescue efforts persist due to collapsed debris, the chaos surrounding Lomera highlights the precariousness of the miners' conditions amidst a gold rush fueled by hope and desperation. A ceasefire agreement was reportedly reached over the weekend between the government and the M23, yet significant challenges remain as the underlying issues of safety, regulation, and conflict continue to affect the affected communities.
Despite some reports indicating that six miners have been successfully rescued, confusion surrounds the actual number of trapped individuals, with estimates suggesting up to 15 remain underground. A local resident claimed that 12 bodies had been discovered, but this has not been verified. Journalists on-site have reported a lack of recovery efforts for these bodies, indicating a dire situation that has left rescuers exhausted as they work tirelessly to uncover the fate of their peers.
The area, which has seen an influx of freelance or artisanal miners since the discovery of gold at the end of last year, is now marked by instability. M23 rebels currently control significant portions of South Kivu province, raising tensions as they faced allegations of worsening miner safety as mining activities were ordered to cease in impacted areas. The continuing conflict among various groups in the DRC complicates the safety and regulation of mining activities, which are crucial for the global electronics industry due to the minerals sourced from this region.
As fear of another landslide looms and hindered rescue efforts persist due to collapsed debris, the chaos surrounding Lomera highlights the precariousness of the miners' conditions amidst a gold rush fueled by hope and desperation. A ceasefire agreement was reportedly reached over the weekend between the government and the M23, yet significant challenges remain as the underlying issues of safety, regulation, and conflict continue to affect the affected communities.
