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The Minister of the Environment said that Congo will seek compensation for the damage caused, but did not specify the amount.
The Minister of Environment of the Democratic Republic of Congo stated that 12 people died and 4,400 people fell ill in the southern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo following the leakage of tailings from the Catoca diamond mine in Angola in July.
After visiting Kasai Province where the Chikapa River has turned red and many fish have died, Eve Bazaiba also said on Thursday that the Democratic Republic of the Congo will demand compensation for the damage caused, but it is not yet clear that it will demand compensation. How much compensation.
Bazaiba said that the Democratic Republic of Congo will seek compensation based on the “polluter pays” principle.
She did not specify how the 12 people died.
The Governor of Kasai Province, Dieudonne Pieme, banned people from drinking water and eating fish from the Tshikapa River after the spill, which he said severely depleted the river’s fish population.
According to Reuters, Sociedade Mineira de Catoca, the mine responsible for 75% of Angola’s diamonds, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the death.
The company previously stated that it has taken immediate measures to minimize the sediment flowing into the river and donated food baskets to affected communities to reduce the impact of the leakage.
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