Congo Mine Collapse: Over 200 Dead in Coltan Mine Tragedy, Say Officials

A deadly disaster rocked the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which claimed lives of over 200 people. On Friday, spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of the province where the mine is located, Lubumba Kambere Muyisa, told Reuters that more that 200 people became the victim of this landslide. According to reports this tragic collapse occurred on Wednesday and the precise toll was still unclear as of Friday evening. 

In this incident affected included miners, children, and market women. While some were rescued with serious injuries approximately 20 injured people are currently receiving treatment in health facilities. Spokesperson stated that the collapse to the fragile ground conditions during the ongoing rainy season.   An adviser to the governor, speaking anonymously, later stated that the number of confirmed dead was at least 227. The precise toll remained unclear as of Friday evening.

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About Mine 

The Rubaya mine, controlled by the AFC/M23 rebel group since 2024, produces approximately 15% of the world's coltan, a mineral refined into tantalum. This heat-resistant metal is crucial for mobile phones, computers, aerospace, and gas turbines. Locals reportedly mine the coltan manually for meager daily wages. The United Nations accuses AFC/M23 of exploiting Rubaya's resources to finance their insurgency, alleging Rwandan government support, a claim Kigali denies.