Congo Mine Collapse: More than 200 people were killed in a massive landslide at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo this week, local officials told Reuters on Friday.
The collapse happened on Wednesday during the rainy season, when unstable ground gave way, burying hundreds of people in mining pits. Victims included artisanal miners digging by hand, children, and women selling goods at a nearby market.
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Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of the province, said more than 200 people died in the disaster. "Some people were rescued just in time and have serious injuries," he told Reuters. About 20 injured survivors are receiving treatment at local health centers.
An adviser to the governor, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed at least 227 deaths so far. Rescue efforts continue, but the exact final toll remains unclear.
Rubaya, located about 60 km northwest of Goma in North Kivu province, produces around 15 per cent of the world's coltan ore. Coltan is processed into tantalum, a heat-resistant metal used in mobile phones, computers, aerospace equipment, and gas turbines.
Most workers here are small-scale artisanal miners who earn just a few dollars a day by digging manually. Poor safety standards result in a high incidence of accidents in these informal settings.
The mine has been under the control of the M23 rebel group (part of the AFC alliance) since 2024. The United Nations has accused M23 of looting the area's resources, with alleged backing from Rwanda, to fund their fight against the Kinshasa government. Kigali denies the claims. M23 says its goal is to protect the Tutsi minority and overthrow the central government.
This tragedy highlights the deadly risks of conflict-driven artisanal mining in eastern Congo, where valuable minerals feed the global tech industry but workers' lives are often at stake due to weak oversight, ongoing violence, and harsh conditions.