Deadly Landslide at Rubaya Coltan Mine Kills Over 200 in Eastern DRC
Over 200 Dead After Landslide Hits Rubaya Coltan Mine in DR Congo Following Heavy Rains
More than 200 people have died after a landslide struck the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the country’s mines ministry.
The disaster occurred on Tuesday following several days of heavy rainfall that destabilized mining areas at the site. Authorities said the collapse buried large numbers of miners working in the pit.
Officials reported that around 70 of the victims were children. Many of the injured were transported to hospitals in the nearby city of Goma for treatment.
However, a senior official from the AFC/M23 rebel group, which currently controls the mine, told Reuters that the death toll was significantly lower, estimating that only five or six people were killed in the accident.
The Rubaya mine is one of the world’s most important sources of coltan, producing an estimated 15% of global supply. Coltan is processed into tantalum, a heat-resistant metal widely used in the manufacturing of mobile phones, computers, aerospace equipment and gas turbines.
The site has been under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel group since 2024. It was recently included in a shortlist of mining assets the Congolese government is considering offering to the United States as part of a proposed minerals cooperation framework.
According to another AFC/M23 official, authorities had previously warned against continued mining operations at the affected section of the site until safety improvements were implemented.
“The damaged site was among those where operations had been discouraged pending the securing of the area and the introduction of protective measures for miners. The incident was triggered by heavy rainfall over the past few days,” the official said.
The latest tragedy follows another deadly accident at the same site in late January, when a separate collapse reportedly killed more than 200 people, highlighting ongoing safety concerns in artisanal mining areas across eastern Congo.
