Disaster leaves 20 people unaccounted for in Eastern Congo

A local official reported that heavy rainfall in eastern Congo caused a landslide overnight, resulting in the deaths of at least four individuals and leaving 20 others missing. The incident occurred late on Sunday near the town of Kamituga in the South Kivu province.

Deputy Mayor Alexandre Ngandu Kamundala provided this information, stating that approximately 25 people, primarily miners, sought refuge from the rain in a cabin. Unfortunately, the landslide struck their shelter, sweeping them into a swiftly flowing river below. Kamundala mentioned that five individuals were narrowly rescued, while 20 others were carried away by the water.

So far, four lifeless bodies have been recovered, and efforts are underway to search and rescue those who are still missing.

It is worth noting that in 2020, a similar tragedy occurred in Kamituga, where 50 people lost their lives due to a landslide at a gold mine in the area.

These deadly accidents are unfortunately common in Congo’s unregulated mines, and many incidents go unreported due to their remote locations in hills and forests.