A bridge collapsed at a cobalt mine in south-east Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), killing at least 32 wildcat miners, a regional government official said on Nov 16.

Axar.az, citing The Strait Times, reports that the bridge came down on Nov 15 onto a flooded zone at the mine in Lualaba province, Mr Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the provincial interior minister, told reporters.

He said 32 bodies had been recovered and more were being searched for.

The DRC produces more than 70 per cent of the world’s supply of cobalt, which is essential for batteries used in electric cars, many laptop computers, and mobile phones.