Residents in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province are still contending with the environmental and human consequences of a toxic spill from a collapsed mining tailings dam. The incident occurred in 2025, and more than eighteen months later, the impacts persist.
The dam, responsible for storing mining waste, is owned by the Chinese copper company Sino-Metals Leach Zambia. Civil society members have conveyed the ongoing challenges faced by local populations to Mongabay.
The dam’s collapse released toxic materials into a Zambian river, leading to widespread contamination and affecting the communities that rely on the river’s resources. The long-term effects of such spills are a significant concern for both the environment and public health.
Source: Mongabay