Deadly Landslide Devastates Kahurizi Mining Site in North Kivu

More Than 120 Feared Dead After Landslide Hits Kahurizi Mining Site in DRC’s North Kivu

A devastating landslide has struck the Kahurizi mining site in Masisi territory, North Kivu province, plunging the Rubaya area into mourning.

The disaster occurred on Thursday, January 28, 2026, at the Kahurizi site, located within the PE4731 mining concession.

According to a local civil society source who requested anonymity, the provisional death toll is alarmingly high, with more than 120 people feared dead.

The victims reportedly include children, women and numerous small-scale farmers, underscoring the extreme vulnerability of communities living and working around the site.

“There is total mourning here following this landslide at the Kahurizi mining site. More than 120 people have already died,” the source said.

The tragedy occurred in an area under the control of an armed group, where enforcement of Congolese mining legislation and compliance with basic safety standards are effectively absent.

This lack of state oversight has repeatedly turned mineral-rich sites particularly those containing coltan and cassiterite into deadly hazards for local populations.

The incident has reignited debate over unregulated artisanal mining in North Kivu, especially in zones beyond effective government control.

Landslides are frequent in these areas, particularly during the rainy season, a risk compounded by rudimentary mining methods and the absence of preventive safety measures.

“The PE4731 area is controlled by a movement where mining law is not applied. This landslide has resulted in heavy loss of life, especially among child miners and women,” the source added.

At the time of reporting, rescue efforts were being led primarily by local volunteers and artisanal miners, who continue to dig through the debris in the hope of finding survivors.