Artisanal Miner Dies in Walikale Landslide as Authorities Launch Investigation
An artisanal miner lost his life on the evening of Tuesday, June 24, following a landslide in the Ifarifari mining area, located in the Banabangi group of Walikale Territory, North Kivu province. The victim was working in a gold pit when the collapse occurred, burying him under debris.
According to local mining authorities, the landslide struck without warning, trapping the miner beneath the rubble. The exact circumstances leading to the incident remain unclear and are under investigation.
The following morning, a joint team comprising mining police and military prosecutors arrived at the site to conduct an official inspection.
The victim’s body was recovered from the collapsed shaft and buried under the supervision of local authorities.
In connection with the investigation, three of the deceased miner’s colleagues—who had been working alongside him in the same pit—were arrested by the mining police.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether these individuals played any role in the incident.
Artisanal mining operations in the area were briefly suspended on the morning of Wednesday, June 25, but resumed later that afternoon.
The fatal incident has once again highlighted the serious safety risks associated with artisanal mining in the region, where protective measures and regulatory oversight are often minimal or entirely lacking.
This latest tragedy adds to a growing number of fatalities in informal mining sectors across the Democratic Republic of Congo, drawing renewed attention to the urgent need for improved safety standards and stronger enforcement.
