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A viral video of men unexpectedly popping out of a collapsed gold mine and tumbling down a steep slope as onlookers cry out with joy is drawing attention to the dangerous business of mining in Congo.
Key points:
- Nine miners were rescued at the artisanal mining site in South Kivu province
- Despite enormous mineral wealth, about 60 million people live on the fringes of the poverty line in Congo
- Global cobalt buyers and authorities in Congo have been pressed to address the grim issues of child labour and mine safety
Mining accidents are rife in the giant Central African country, especially at small, artisanal sites such as the one in South Kivu province that collapsed on Saturday after heavy rain.
The video shows a man precariously perched on the side of a steep slope of rubble, frantically digging with a spade while a group of other men stand in a large circle around him, watching.
All of a sudden, a miner pops out of the rubble and slides down the slope as the onlookers break out in cheers of surprise and delight.
The rescuer is then seen redoubling his efforts, forsaking the spade to dig through the rubble with his bare hands.
Another miner soon appears, then another, and, within two minutes, a total of nine men have come out alive and well.
Reuters has verified the video, which was widely shared on social media.
Poverty rife, despite mineral wealth
Despite the enormous mineral wealth, Congo is ranked 179 out of 191 countries and territories worldwide on the 2021 Human Development Index, with about 60 million people living on less than $3 a day.
Studies suggest that the resources extracted from mines in the country has fuelled raging violence in the country, while also damaging biodiversity, causing deforestation and soil erosion.
A lack of safety procedures and proper equipment are at the root of frequent tunnel collapses at Congolese mines, in which miners are trapped underground with slim chances of survival.
Two miners died in a similar incident at a nearby informal digging site in early March.
Scores of similar incidents had taken place prior to that.
Against that backdrop, hopes were dim as rescue efforts began after Saturday's incident.
"We quickly mobilised people to clear the rubble that was blocking the entrance," local civil society representative Crispin Kayuka said.
"It was on the morning of this Saturday … that they managed to save these nine souls," he added.
Mining of cobalt, copper, diamonds, tantalum, tin and gold is at the heart of economy in Congo.
The country delivers more than 60 per cent of global cobalt production, which is primarily used by large tech companies for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for electronic devices and electric cars.
Rights groups have been pressing the global cobalt buyers, and the authorities in Congo, to address the grim issues of child labour and mine safety.
Reuters/ABC