This archive report was first published on 3 October 2019.
At least 16 people lost their lives in a devastating landslide at a gold mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, according to the provincial governor.
Dozens of people die every year in the country due to unregulated and old-fashioned mining methods that compromise safety.
"There was an accident at the Kampene mine, and for the moment we were able to get 16 bodies from the site of the landslide," said Auguy Musafiri, governor of Maniema province, in a statement to Reuters.
"What surprises us is that the activities continued in this mine, which had been closed by the provincial division of mines," he added.
More than 20 people were working on the gold seam at the time of the accident, suggesting that more bodies may be found, said Stéphane Kamundala, a local activist.
This tragic incident highlights the dangers faced by informal miners, who often use rudimentary tools to burrow dozens of meters below ground.
It is worth noting that at least 43 illegal miners died in June in a landslide at a copper and cobalt mine run by Glencore in southern Congo.
