Seven Miners Die in Mungwalu Gold Mine Tragedy Amid Heavy Rain
On Thursday, September 12, 2024, a tragic incident occurred in the mining region of Mungwalu, Djugu Territory, about 85 kilometers north of Bunia in Ituri, where seven artisanal gold miners lost their lives after heavy rainfall flooded the “Makala” gold mine.
According to local civil society reports shared with Radio Okapi, torrential rain caused water to flow from surrounding hills, flooding the mine and trapping the workers inside, unable to escape.
This tragedy highlights the unsafe working conditions faced by artisanal miners in the region. Without proper safety measures, miners are frequently vulnerable to natural disasters. In this case, the sudden rise in water levels blocked the only exit from the mine.
Cherubin Kokodilahu, president of Mungwalu’s civil society, explained the miners’ plight: “They did not know what was happening outside… All seven of them were trapped… They died of asphyxiation.”
This fatal incident adds to a growing number of mining-related accidents in the region in 2024. Since the beginning of the year, there have been seven similar incidents, resulting in the deaths of over 15 gold miners. These recurring tragedies underscore the hazards associated with artisanal gold mining in Mungwalu.
Safety in Artisanal Mines
Experts believe the incident in Mungwalu highlights the severe lack of safety measures in artisanal mines, where workers often risk their lives due to economic necessity.
Frequent bad weather in the region triggers such accidents, but the root cause lies in the fragile infrastructure and lack of regulatory oversight to protect miners.
Furthermore, the inability of local authorities to effectively regulate the artisanal mining sector exacerbates the risks. Despite the economic importance of gold mining to local communities, inadequate safety regulations leave miners exposed to preventable dangers.
To address this crisis, it is critical to establish early warning systems and improve mining infrastructure to ensure the safety of workers.
