The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government reported on Sunday that at least 200 people are feared dead following a massive landslide at a mine in the country’s east, in an area controlled by the M23 armed group.
The disaster occurred at the Rubaya mine in North Kivu province, a site known for its steep hillsides and deep ravines, where thousands of artisanal miners work daily under precarious conditions. The mine produces 15–30% of the world’s coltan, a mineral essential for electronics such as laptops and mobile phones.
Two landslides struck the area within two days—Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning—leaving bodies buried in debris. Access to the region is limited due to damaged roads and poor telecommunications, making accurate casualty verification challenging. Injured survivors have been taken to local health centers, which have limited resources.
The M23-appointed governor, Eraston Bahati Musanga, confirmed that at least 200 people had died, though the exact toll remains unclear. Authorities and humanitarian groups have reported difficulties in obtaining precise information due to restricted access.
The Congolese government called on the international community to recognize the scale of the tragedy and highlighted the role of the armed occupation in exacerbating risks at the mine.
