According to the March 23 Movement rebel group, the incident occurred on Wednesday at the Rubaya coltan mine in North Kivu province, about 60 kilometers northwest of Goma.
According to Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of North Kivu, heavy rains triggered the landslide, causing the ground to give way and collapse several mining shafts where people were working and sheltering.
Many of the victims were reportedly miners, children and women. Witnesses described chaotic rescue efforts as family members and neighbours scrambled to pull survivors from the mud and rubble.
Some individuals were saved with serious injuries and taken to health facilities in Rubaya, with plans to transfer the most badly hurt to hospitals in Goma for further treatment.
Officials have not yet confirmed an exact death toll, but multiple local authorities say the figure exceeds 200. One unnamed provincial official told international media that at least 227 bodies have so far been confirmed, though the number could rise as rescue teams continue searching through collapsed tunnels and debris.
The Rubaya mine is a significant source of coltan, a mineral used to produce tantalum, a metal essential in the manufacturing of mobile phones, computers, aerospace components, and other high-tech devices. It contributes approximately 15 percent of the global coltan supply, yet local miners often work without proper safety safeguards and for very low daily wages.
M23 rebels have been controlling the mine since May 2024 after seizing territory from the Congolese government.
Rania Umutoni
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/over-200-killed-in-coltan-mine-collapse-in-eastern-dr-congo
