Acidic waste spills from mine, killing fish and crops along vital river

WorldEnvironment
15 Mar 2025 • 7:34 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • A catastrophic acid spill from a Chinese-owned copper mine in Zambia has contaminated the Kafue River, a vital water source for millions.
  • Fifty million litres of toxic waste, including acid, dissolved solids, and heavy metals spilled into the river after a tailings dam collapsed.
  • The contamination has killed fish and crops up to 60 miles away, raising concerns about long-term environmental damage and harm to human health.
  • The Zambian government is attempting to mitigate the damage by using lime to neutralise the acid, and the mine's chairman has apologized for the incident.
  • This spill is fuelling existing discontent over Chinese mining practices in Zambia.

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