Efforts are hampered by debris, but some survivors are being rescued as the situation remains critical.
**Desperate Rescue Efforts Underway in DR Congo After Miners Trapped in Landslide**
**Desperate Rescue Efforts Underway in DR Congo After Miners Trapped in Landslide**
Rescue teams in Democratic Republic of Congo are digging with bare hands to save trapped miners following a catastrophic landslide.
In a grim situation unfolding in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local residents are engaging in desperate rescue operations to save miners trapped after a landslide in the gold-rich area of Lomera. Armed with only their bare hands and rudimentary tools, rescuers have managed to pull six miners from the debris since the incident occurred early Sunday morning, though one was reported seriously injured.
Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the number of casualties. While some locals indicated that 12 bodies have been recovered, local journalist Ashuza Barack reported that no bodies had yet been located. The remote area, located in South Kivu province, has been under the control of M23 rebels, who recently captured significant territories rich in various minerals. The group has dismissed allegations that hundreds of miners remain trapped underground.
This gold-mining site has seen an influx of thousands of hopeful freelance miners since the discovery of gold last year, transforming what was once a quiet village into a chaotic mix of makeshift shelters and mineshafts, as noted by the humanitarian organization MSF. A sudden series of cascading landslides buried as many as 15 unregulated mining shafts without warning, exacerbating the already dangerous conditions.
Rescue operations face numerous challenges, with heavy stones and debris obstructing access to the victims. Journalist Barack interviewed a miner involved in the rescue efforts who expressed their exhaustion and concern, stating, "We've been digging since Sunday night but have not recovered any bodies."
M23 officials have visited the site and directed a halt to mining activities in certain areas of Lomera due to the risk. The mineral-rich region, critical for supplying metals used in the global electronics industry, has long been plagued by conflict as various rebel factions and government forces vie for territorial control. Earlier this year, the M23 seized Goma, the main city in eastern DR Congo. Following recent ceasefire talks brokered by Qatar, both parties reached a temporary agreement, though lasting peace remains uncertain as the region grapples with how to ensure the safety and rights of miners.
Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the number of casualties. While some locals indicated that 12 bodies have been recovered, local journalist Ashuza Barack reported that no bodies had yet been located. The remote area, located in South Kivu province, has been under the control of M23 rebels, who recently captured significant territories rich in various minerals. The group has dismissed allegations that hundreds of miners remain trapped underground.
This gold-mining site has seen an influx of thousands of hopeful freelance miners since the discovery of gold last year, transforming what was once a quiet village into a chaotic mix of makeshift shelters and mineshafts, as noted by the humanitarian organization MSF. A sudden series of cascading landslides buried as many as 15 unregulated mining shafts without warning, exacerbating the already dangerous conditions.
Rescue operations face numerous challenges, with heavy stones and debris obstructing access to the victims. Journalist Barack interviewed a miner involved in the rescue efforts who expressed their exhaustion and concern, stating, "We've been digging since Sunday night but have not recovered any bodies."
M23 officials have visited the site and directed a halt to mining activities in certain areas of Lomera due to the risk. The mineral-rich region, critical for supplying metals used in the global electronics industry, has long been plagued by conflict as various rebel factions and government forces vie for territorial control. Earlier this year, the M23 seized Goma, the main city in eastern DR Congo. Following recent ceasefire talks brokered by Qatar, both parties reached a temporary agreement, though lasting peace remains uncertain as the region grapples with how to ensure the safety and rights of miners.
