More than 200 people have died this week following a mine collapse in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to local authorities cited by Reuters.
Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of the province where the mine is located, said the collapse occurred on Wednesday, while the exact death toll remained unclear as of Friday evening.
The incident took place in Rubaya, a region that produces around 15% of the world’s coltan, a critical mineral refined into tantalum, which is widely used in mobile phones, computers, aerospace components and gas turbines. The area has been under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel group since 2024.
“More than 200 people were victims of this landslide, including miners, children and women,” Muyisa said, adding that some individuals were rescued just in time but suffered serious injuries. He noted that approximately 20 injured people are currently receiving medical treatment.
A senior adviser to the provincial governor, speaking on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to brief the media, stated that the confirmed death toll has reached at least 227.
The Rubaya mines are known for manual, small-scale mining, where local residents dig for minerals earning only a few dollars per day, often under dangerous and unregulated conditions.
The tragedy once again underscores the severe human cost of mineral extraction in conflict-affected regions, where safety standards are minimal and armed groups exert control over lucrative resources.
