Over 200 killed in Congo mine landslide

More than 200 people are reported to have died due to a massive landslide at the Rubaya coltan mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The sudden collapse at the mine, located about 60 kilometers northwest of Goma in North Kivu province, occurred last Wednesday.

Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, a spokesperson for the rebel group controlling the area, confirmed to Reuters that among those killed in the disaster were not only miners but also young children and women engaged in trade.

The accident occurred due to the loosening of the soil amidst heavy rainfall, and victims were inside the mine pit at the time of the landslide. Approximately 20 people who sustained serious injuries in the accident have been admitted to health centers, and it is believed that more people are trapped under the debris. Eraston Bahati Musanga, the governor of North Kivu province appointed by the M23 rebel group, stated that several bodies have been recovered, but the exact death toll has not yet been confirmed. However, an advisor to the provincial governor, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the death toll could exceed 200.

The Rubaya mine supplies approximately 15% of the world's coltan, a mineral from which tantalum metal is extracted, essential for the production of electronic devices worldwide. This mineral is crucial for manufacturing mobile phones, computers, and aircraft parts. Since 2024, control of this mine has been held by the M23 rebels, who are reportedly supported by Rwanda, and the United Nations accuses the rebels of plundering these mineral resources to finance their war efforts.

Frank Bolingo, an artisanal miner working at the mine, stated that the earth suddenly collapsed with the rain, sweeping people away, and many were buried alive under the soil. Despite Congo possessing vast mineral resources, it is reported that over 70% of its population lives on less than $2.15 per day. Local people engage in daily manual mining at these sites for very low wages, and this tragedy has once again exposed the unsafe conditions prevalent in the country's mining industry to the world.