The death toll from a mine landslide in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has risen to over 200, the government reported Wednesday. The tragedy occurred at the Rubaya coltan mine, the country’s largest, located about 70 km west of Goma in North Kivu province—an area under the control of the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23.
Initial reports from witnesses had put the casualties at six, but the Ministry of Mines confirmed that more than 200 people, including 70 children, lost their lives, with numerous others injured.
Access to the remote region is extremely limited, as humanitarian organizations and major health facilities are largely absent, and telecommunications are frequently cut, making independent verification difficult.
The government has called for emergency relief and support for the affected families while highlighting the urgent need for improved safety measures in mining operations.
The Rubaya mine is a key source of coltan, a mineral critical for electronics manufacturing, and such disasters highlight the ongoing risks faced by miners in rebel-controlled areas of eastern DRC.
