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In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, residents in a gold-mining region are reportedly using rudimentary tools and their bare hands in an attempt to rescue miners trapped underground following a series of collapses.
According to local journalist Ashuza Barack, speaking to the BBC, six miners have been rescued alive, one with serious injuries, since the shafts in Lomera collapsed early Sunday morning.
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the number of fatalities. While one resident claimed that 12 bodies had been recovered, Barack stated that no bodies have been found to date.
The area, situated in South Kivu province, has been under the control of M23 rebels after they seized territory in the DR Congo’s mineral-rich east earlier in the year. The M23 has refuted claims that hundreds of miners were trapped.
Lomera has experienced a gold rush since the discovery of the precious metal in the hills near the once-quiet village late last year, as reported by the medical charity MSF.
Thousands of individuals, hoping to profit as independent artisanal miners, have flocked to the area, transforming it into a “sprawling chaos of mineshafts and makeshift shelters,” according to an MSF statement released last month concerning a cholera outbreak in the region.
Reports indicate that a series of landslides buried up to 15 of these hastily constructed shafts without warning.
Rescue operations are facing significant challenges due to ongoing debris and large rocks obstructing access to the site.
Journalist Barack informed the BBC that the lack of proper equipment is hindering efforts to clear the area. Survivors have indicated that numerous miners remain trapped.
“We’ve been digging since Sunday night but have not recovered any bodies. We are exhausted,” one miner stated.
Officials from the M23 have visited the site and ordered a cessation of mining activities in certain areas.
Dozens of mining sites across this region of the DR Congo supply the global electronics industry with critical metals and minerals. Many of these sites lack proper regulation, and safety standards are often disregarded.
The region has also been marred by decades of conflict, as various rebel groups and government forces vie for control.
Earlier this year, the M23 made substantial territorial gains, including the capture of Goma, the main city in eastern DR Congo.
The group recently signed a ceasefire agreement with the government during talks brokered by Qatar over the weekend.
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