At least 30 people have died in a tragic incident at a copper mine in southeastern Congo after a bridge collapsed, authorities said. The Kalando mining site in Lualaba province was the scene of the accident on Saturday, which also left dozens critically injured.

Officials from Congo’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Support and Guidance Service (SAEMAPE) initially reported 49 deaths and said 20 people were hospitalized following the collapse. The agency said the incident was triggered by panic, reportedly caused by gunfire from military personnel securing the site, leading miners to pile on top of one another.

Provincial Interior Minister Roy Kaumba confirmed in a televised statement that 32 deaths had been verified so far, as reported in Reuters.

The Initiative for the Protection of Human Rights has called for an independent investigation into the military’s involvement, citing reports of clashes between miners and soldiers. A military spokesperson did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

Mining accidents are common in Congo’s unregulated artisanal mining sector, which employs an estimated 1.5 to 2 million people and indirectly supports over 10 million more. Many miners work in poorly equipped conditions, and accidents claiming dozens of lives occur frequently.