A bridge collapse at the Kalando copper and cobalt mine in Lualaba province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, has resulted in at least 32 fatalities and numerous injuries. The incident occurred after heavy rainfall had already led to the closure of the site. Despite the ban, informal miners gathered on a makeshift bridge over a waterlogged trench, which collapsed under their weight. Panic ensued when nearby soldiers fired gunshots, causing a deadly stampede. Recovery operations are still underway, with the death toll potentially rising above 40. This tragedy underscores persistent safety and governance challenges in the DRC's artisanal mining sector, a vital component of the global cobalt supply chain.