A river died in Zambia

A river died in Zambia What happened? There was an acid spill in a Chinese mine. The spill contaminated a major river. This contamination could potentially affect millions of people. Signs of pollution have been discovered about 100 kilometers downstream. Officials and environmentalists fear the long-term consequences.

The spill occurred on February 18. As a result, approximately 50 million liters of waste containing concentrated acid, dissolved solids, and heavy metals entered a stream connected to the Kafue River, Zambia's most important waterway. The Kafue is a major left tributary of the Zambezi. It is approximately 950 to 1,576 km long, depending on the source, and flows through the country from north to south. The river originates on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and flows into the Zambezi near Chirundu. Its catchment area covers approximately 20% of Zambia and is an important habitat for wildlife and birds. The Kafue River is used for energy production, particularly through the Kafue Dam. It also offers opportunities for canoe safaris and is part of Kafue National Park, Zambia's largest national park. China is the dominant player in copper mining. Zambia is among the world's top 10 copper producers. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema called for experts, declaring a crisis threatening people and wildlife along the Kafue River. Authorities are still assessing the extent of the environmental damage.