In the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a gold-mining area has witnessed a desperate rescue effort as people use their bare hands and basic tools to free trapped miners underground. According to local journalist Ashuza Barack, six miners have been pulled out alive, with one seriously injured, since shafts collapsed in Lomera on Sunday. However, there are conflicting reports on the death toll, with one resident claiming 12 bodies have been found, while Barack asserts that no bodies have been recovered.
The area, located in South Kivu province, has been under the control of M23 rebels since they captured swathes of DR Congo’s mineral-rich east earlier this year. The M23 has rejected reports that hundreds were trapped underground. Lomera has experienced a gold rush since the discovery of the precious ore at the end of last year, attracting thousands of people hoping to make money as freelance or artisanal miners. This has turned the area into a “sprawling chaos of mineshafts and makeshift shelters,” as described by medical charity MSF in a statement on a cholera outbreak in the area last month.
A series of cascading landslides buried up to 15 makeshift shafts without warning, prompting rescue efforts that have been hampered by the lack of proper equipment. Survivors have reported that many miners remain stuck, with one miner stating, “We’ve been digging since Sunday night but have not recovered any bodies. We are exhausted.” Officials from M23 visited the site and ordered mining activities to stop in parts of the area.
Dozens of mining sites across this region of DR Congo supply the global electronics industry with vital metals and minerals, but many are not properly regulated, and safety standards are not observed. Working conditions in these mines are hazardous, with hundreds of miners dying in work-related accidents every year. According to Janvier Murairi, a human rights researcher, “In DRC, the mining industry is not organized… People work in disorder, and corruption is everywhere.” The region has also been plagued by conflict for decades, with various rebel groups and the government fighting over control.
The M23 made significant territorial gains earlier this year, capturing Goma, the main city in eastern DR Congo. However, they have since signed a ceasefire deal with the government, brokered by Qatar. Despite this development, the ceasefire deal still faces many challenges. The situation highlights the complex issues surrounding mining in the region, where the pursuit of valuable resources often comes at a high human cost.