A frantic rescue operation is unfolding in Lomera, South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where miners are digging with their bare hands and rudimentary tools in the hopes of rescuing their colleagues trapped underground after a series of cave-ins.
Desperate Search for Trapped Miners in DR Congo as Rescuers Dig Barehanded
Desperate Search for Trapped Miners in DR Congo as Rescuers Dig Barehanded
In the chaos following a mining disaster in eastern DR Congo, rescuers are working tirelessly to save trapped workers.
In the early hours of Sunday, several makeshift mine shafts collapsed, burying miners beneath the debris. Local reports indicate that six individuals have been rescued, one of whom is seriously injured, amidst overwhelming uncertainty about the actual number of casualties. While a local resident claims that 12 bodies have been discovered, further reports from journalist Ashuza Barack suggest that no bodies have yet been recovered from the collapse.
The disaster hits hard in an area that has become the focus of a gold rush since the end of the previous year when gold was discovered nearby, leading to an influx of thousands of artisanal miners seeking quick profits. As a result, Lomera has transformed into a disordered maze filled with mineshafts and chaotic makeshift shelters, raising significant concerns over safety standards.
Rescue efforts have been critically hampered by ongoing instability due to the presence of M23 rebel forces, which control vast territories in the mineral-rich eastern Congo. The M23 group has dismissed reports claiming that hundreds remain trapped beneath the site, while also ordering a temporary halt to mining activities in affected areas.
Survivors and others involved in rescue attempts described their exhaustion and frustration over the lack of proper equipment, which has stymied progress in clearing the rubble. "We've been digging since Sunday night but have not recovered any bodies. We are exhausted," lamented one miner.
The situation in DR Congo is further exacerbated by its long history of conflict, where various armed groups continuously vie for power over resource-rich territories, leading to unsafe mining conditions. Despite a ceasefire agreement negotiated with the government recently, challenges linger as the region continues to experience waves of violence. As the rescue operation remains ongoing, the urgent need for safety regulations in these hazardous mining sites is becoming increasingly apparent.
The disaster hits hard in an area that has become the focus of a gold rush since the end of the previous year when gold was discovered nearby, leading to an influx of thousands of artisanal miners seeking quick profits. As a result, Lomera has transformed into a disordered maze filled with mineshafts and chaotic makeshift shelters, raising significant concerns over safety standards.
Rescue efforts have been critically hampered by ongoing instability due to the presence of M23 rebel forces, which control vast territories in the mineral-rich eastern Congo. The M23 group has dismissed reports claiming that hundreds remain trapped beneath the site, while also ordering a temporary halt to mining activities in affected areas.
Survivors and others involved in rescue attempts described their exhaustion and frustration over the lack of proper equipment, which has stymied progress in clearing the rubble. "We've been digging since Sunday night but have not recovered any bodies. We are exhausted," lamented one miner.
The situation in DR Congo is further exacerbated by its long history of conflict, where various armed groups continuously vie for power over resource-rich territories, leading to unsafe mining conditions. Despite a ceasefire agreement negotiated with the government recently, challenges linger as the region continues to experience waves of violence. As the rescue operation remains ongoing, the urgent need for safety regulations in these hazardous mining sites is becoming increasingly apparent.
