More than 200 people died after the Rubaya coltan mine collapsed in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), marking one of the deadliest mining disasters in recent years.
The collapse occurred on Wednesday, but the full scale of casualties became clear by Friday. Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of North Kivu, confirmed the death toll and said around 20 injured people are receiving medical care. Victims included miners, children, and market women. Some survivors were rescued with serious injuries.
The Rubaya mine lies about 60 km northwest of Goma, the provincial capital. Rubaya contributes nearly 15% of the world’s coltan supply. Coltan is refined into tantalum, a heat-resistant metal vital for mobile phones, computers, aerospace components, and gas turbines. The collapse has raised concerns about global supply chains and the human cost of mineral extraction.
Local residents manually extract coltan at Rubaya for a few dollars a day. Since 2024, the AFC/M23 rebel group has controlled the site, adding to instability and unsafe working conditions.
Officials confirmed that some bodies have been recovered, and search operations continue. Rescue teams face challenges due to the scale of the collapse and the remote location.
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