Zambia’s Kafue River hit by mining spill, disrupting water supplies to 500,000 people

Zambian authorities have warned against fishing in the Kafue River, which has become highly acidic. A dam used for water and waste storage from mining operations broke last month, releasing over 50 million litres of acidic effluent into the river. The spill contained heavy metals like copper and cobalt, causing severe environmental damage. Activists blame decades of mining along Zambia’s Copperbelt for the destruction. The disaster has disrupted water supplies to 500,000 people in Kitwe. Authorities are trying to prevent further contamination by spraying lime over 100 km of the river.

Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa reports.

Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe
Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera
Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/
Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile

#Zambia #KafueRiver #AcidSpill #ZambiaMiningDisaster #EnvironmentalDamage #Copperbelt #WaterContamination #ZambiaRiverPollution #Kitwe

Post from Al Jazeera on March 10, 2025

View Original Post