Home / Disasters and Accidents / Congo Mine Landslide: 200+ Dead in Coltan Disaster
Congo Mine Landslide: 200+ Dead in Coltan Disaster
5 Mar
Summary
- Over 200 people died in a landslide at the Rubaya coltan mine.
- Heavy rains triggered the disaster, affecting mine operations.
- Around 70 children were among the victims of the collapse.
Tragedy struck the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, when a landslide killed more than 200 people. The disaster was attributed to heavy rainfall in recent days. This catastrophic event occurred at a mine known for producing approximately 15% of the global supply of coltan, a critical component in modern electronics.
Reports indicate that around 70 children were among the victims of the collapse. Survivors with injuries were transported to health facilities in the nearby city of Goma. The mine has been under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel group since 2024, and its continued operation had previously been discouraged due to safety concerns pending protective measures.
This recent disaster comes just a month after a similar incident at the same site in late January, which also resulted in over 200 fatalities. The Rubaya mine was recently identified as a key mining asset being offered by the Congolese government to the United States under a minerals cooperation framework.
