At least 32 people were killed when a makeshift bridge collapsed at the Kalando copper and cobalt mine in southeastern DRC, amid overcrowding by wildcat miners.

The incident occurred despite a formal ban on access due to heavy rain and landslide risks, and panic was reportedly triggered by soldiers firing at the site.

The mine has long been contested between independent miners, a cooperative, and legal operators with Chinese involvement.

Authorities suspended operations and human rights groups called for an independent investigation into the military’s role in the deaths, Al-Jazeera has reported.

The DRC, the world’s largest cobalt producer, has faced longstanding issues with unsafe mining conditions, child labor, and corruption, with Chinese companies controlling most production.