Tragic Landslide Claims Lives of Artisanal Miners in Watsa
At least five artisanal miners have died (provisional toll) in a landslide that occurred in the gold mining area during the afternoon of Thursday, November 23, 2023, in the locality of Moku-Menze, in the territory of Watsa (Haut-Uele) in the Northeast of the DRC.
According to sources from the local civil society, besides the fatalities, nine surviving artisanal miners are severely injured.
The same sources state that the sudden stoppage of the engine ventilating oxygen into the holes dug for gold extraction is believed to be the cause of this deadly incident.
It’s worth noting that the injured survivors have been transported to the nearest healthcare facilities for appropriate medical treatment.
