2025 Sino-Metals Leach Zambia dam disaster
Kafue River in Zambia | |
| Date | February–March 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | Kafue River basin, Zambia |
| Coordinates | 12°38′58″S 28°2′12″E / 12.64944°S 28.03667°E |
| Type | Environmental disaster |
| Cause | Catastrophic failure of a tailings dam for copper extraction |
A major environmental disaster began on 18 February 2025, when a tailings dam collapsed at a Chinese corporation-owned copper mine in northern Zambia, releasing approximately 50 million litres (13 million US gallons) of acidic and highly toxic waste into the Kafue River ecosystem. The contamination severely impacted aquatic life, water supplies, and agricultural activities along the river, which serves as a critical water source for approximately 60% of Zambia's population.