Authorities and environmentalists in Zambia concern the long-term affect of an acid spill at a Chinese-owned mine that contaminated a serious river and will probably have an effect on tens of millions of individuals after indicators of air pollution have been detected not less than 100 kilometres (60 miles) downstream.
The spill occurred on Feb. 18 when a tailings dam that holds acidic waste from a copper mine within the north of the nation collapsed, based on investigators from the Engineering Institution of Zambia. The collapse allowed some 50 million litters of waste containing concentrated acid, dissolved solids and heavy metals to stream right into a stream that hyperlinks to the Kafue River, Zambia’s most essential waterway, the engineering establishment mentioned.
“It is an environmental disaster, really of catastrophic consequence when we consider the fact that Sino Metals has polluted a river on which millions of people depend for the livelihoods,” mentioned environmental activist Chilekwa Mumba. He added that for native communities, “their entire livelihoods have been destroyed, they are farmers, their soil is disturbed, we are very close to harvest time, two months away from harvest time, what they had invested in, has all gone down the drain.”
Footage within the aftermath of the catastrophe confirmed piles of lifeless fish alongside the riverbank. The incident additionally prompted harm to maize and floor nut fields of native communities. “Prior to the 18th February, this was a vibrant and alive river” mentioned one resident, Sean Cornileus. “Now everything is dead, it’s like a totally dead river, unbelievable,” he added.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock issued an advisory on the twenty third of February advising the general public to not eat any fish from the Kafue River or different polluted streams. One native farmer, Juliet Bulaya, recalled seeing the lime waste flowing via her fish pond within the aftermath of the dam breach, saying “all the fish had been swept away. I just stood in agony wondering what I would do about the money I spent on the project.”
The dam wall breach was repaired on the nineteenth February 2025, and the discharge of leach residue was managed. However, the extent of the human, financial and ecological affect just isn’t but recognized.
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