Katanga has one of the world's richest belts of copper and cobalt
Six people have been arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo for allegedly dumping highly radioactive minerals into a river, officials say.
The authorities had ordered the nearly 20 metric tons of toxic material to be disposed of at an old uranium mine.
But some of those charged with the safe disposal of the waste are reportedly among those who have been arrested.
Residents of the large town of Likasi nearby are being warned not to use the water from the contaminated Mura river.
Authorities are still trying to trace the remainder of the waste, and an exclusion zone has been created around the site in south-eastern Katanga province.
Authorities in the region seized the 19 tons of copper and cobalt ore, which was due to be exported to a Chinese firm, last month.
Ore mined in Katanga, one of the world's richest belts of copper and cobalt, contains traces of uranium, which DR Congo is currently banned from exporting.
No comments:
Post a Comment