The spill happened on Feb. 18 when a tailings dam that holds acidic waste from a copper mine in the north of the country collapsed, according to investigators from the Engineering Institution of Zambia.
The collapse allowed some 50 million liters of waste containing concentrated acid, dissolved solids and heavy metals to flow into a stream that links to the Kafue River, Zambia’s most important waterway, the engineering institution said.
“It is an environmental disaster really of catastrophic consequences,” said Chilekwa Mumba, an environmental activist who works in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province.
It’s happened or happening in Cameroon as well ( link ) by Sinosteel, part of the same company China Baowu Steel Group Corp., Ltd.
“Cameroon Locals Seek Justice amid Chinese Iron Mining Expansion”
(…) serious environmental risks, including potential contamination of the Lobé and Likodo rivers, and Manyange na Elombo Campo Marine Park. Early signs of water quality deterioration were observed even before mining operations began(…) The project threatens tropical forests, wetlands, and endemic species in Campo Maan National Park and Manyangué na Elombo Campo Marine Park(…)
+FYI: Population Cameroon 31M.