More than 200 people were killed this week when a landslide caused part of the Rubaya coltan mine to collapse in North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said on Sunday (1 February). The disaster struck a rebel-controlled mining area during the rainy season.
The collapse occurred on Wednesday (28 January) at the Rubaya mine, which is under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel group, according to Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the rebel-appointed provincial governor.
The precise death toll remained unclear by Friday due to communication outages and insecurity in the area.
“More than 200 people were victims of this landslide, including miners, children and market women,” Muyisa told the press, adding that around 20 injured people were receiving treatment in health facilities. Some victims were rescued with serious injuries.
The collapse was blamed on unstable ground during the rainy season.
“The ground is fragile. It was the ground that gave way while the victims were in the hole,” Muyisa said.
An adviser to the governor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said at least 227 deaths had been confirmed so far, while the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government said on Sunday it feared “at least 200 dead” in what it described as a “massive” landslide at a militia-held mine.
Scavengers reported that part of a hillside collapsed on Wednesday afternoon, followed by a second landslide on Thursday morning.
Rubaya is one of the world’s most important sources of coltan, producing an estimated 15 to 30% of global supply. The mineral is refined into tantalum, a heat-resistant metal used in mobile phones, computers, aerospace components and gas turbines.
Local miners work manually at the site for just a few dollars a day, according to press reports.
Eastern Congo holds vast reserves of coltan, gold and tin, including more than 60% of the world’s known coltan deposits.
The mine has been under M23 control since April 2024, after the group seized the area during a renewed offensive in eastern Congo.
The United Nations says the rebels have plundered Rubaya’s mineral wealth to finance their insurgency, which United Nations experts estimate generates around $800,000 a month through a tax on coltan production and sales.
M23, whose stated aim is to overthrow the government in Kinshasa and protect the Congolese Tutsi minority, has captured large swathes of resource-rich territory since its resurgence in 2021. The group is accused by the UN and Congolese authorities of being backed by neighbouring Rwanda, an allegation Kigali denies.
Information from the area has been slow to emerge, with phone networks down and government officials and civil society groups having fled when the rebels arrived.
A humanitarian source said details were arriving “in dribs and drabs from motorbike couriers circulating the region”, complicating efforts to establish an accurate death toll.
Kinshasa urged the international community to “fully grasp the scale of this tragedy”, blaming it on “armed occupation and an organised system of looting”.
Iran says it is open to talks with countries seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz - disrupted by recent attacks - as Israel continues ...
Canada and the five Nordic countries have agreed to deepen cooperation in military procurement and other areas, in...
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 ...
Ukraine wants money and technology in return for helping Middle Eastern nations that have sought its expertise as ...
French voters head to the polls on Sunday (15 March) to elect their mayors in a closely watched ballot seen as a t...
Iran says it is open to talks with countries seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz - disrupted by recent attacks - as Israel continues to launch wide‑scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure in the west. This live report tracks the latest developments.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
The process of evacuating foreign diplomats and citizens from Iran to Azerbaijan through the Astara state border crossing continues on Sunday (15 March), ensuring smooth and efficient transit for those arriving.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A long-running investigation has suggested that the street artist known as Banksy may be legally named David Jones. A report indicates that Jones was previously known as Robin Gunningham, a name long associated with Banksy, before legally changing his name several years ago.
A widening conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has triggered escalating military strikes across the Middle East, disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and raised concerns over global energy supplies. This live report tracks the latest developments.
North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile on Saturday (14 March), Japanese and South Korean officials said. The development comes amid the joint annual U.S.-South Korea "Freedom Shield" military drills and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to Washington.
Iran says it is open to talks with countries seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz - disrupted by recent attacks - as Israel continues to launch wide‑scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure in the west. This live report tracks the latest developments.
Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery and a key port in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region overnight (13-14 March), local authorities said, causing injuries and damage. In separate action, Russian air attacks on Ukrainian territory killed and wounded civilians near Kyiv, officials reported.
Canada and the five Nordic countries have agreed to deepen cooperation in military procurement and other areas, in the latest push by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to build new global alliances.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
Ukraine wants money and technology in return for helping Middle Eastern nations that have sought its expertise as they defend against Iranian kamikaze drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, after Kyiv sent specialists to the region.
French voters head to the polls on Sunday (15 March) to elect their mayors in a closely watched ballot seen as a test of the strength of the far-right and the resilience of mainstream parties ahead of next year's presidential vote.
Tens of millions of Vietnamese were voting on Sunday (15 March) to elect members of parliament from a list of candidates almost exclusively fielded by the Communist Party, ensuring the party's continued overwhelming dominance.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment