More than 200 people have been reportedly killed in a devastating collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to local authorities, as rescue efforts continue amid uncertainty over the final death toll.
Lubumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of the province where the mine is located, reportedly told a news agency on Friday that over 200 people were victims of the landslide. The collapse occurred on Wednesday, and the exact number of fatalities remained unclear as of Friday evening, as per the reports.
Muyisa reportedly stated that the ground gave way while people were working inside the mine. Those affected included miners as well as children and women who were present at the site. While some victims were rescued with serious injuries, around 20 injured people are currently being treated at nearby health facilities.
The spokesperson reportedly said the collapse was caused by fragile ground conditions linked to the ongoing rainy season. An adviser to the governor, speaking on condition of anonymity, later put the confirmed death toll at at least 227, though officials cautioned that the figure could rise further.
The Rubaya mine is a major global source of coltan, producing an estimated 15% of the world’s supply. Coltan is processed into tantalum, a heat-resistant metal widely used in the manufacture of mobile phones, computers, aerospace equipment and gas turbines. Local residents at the site are reported to dig manually for the mineral, earning only a few dollars a day.
Since 2024, the mine has been under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel group. The United Nations has said the group has exploited Rubaya’s mineral wealth to finance its insurgency, an operation it alleges is backed by neighbouring Rwanda — a claim that Kigali has repeatedly denied.
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