Over 200 Feared Dead in Catastrophic Collapse at Key Congo Coltan Mine
GOMA, Democratic Republic of the Congo — A catastrophic landslide has buried an artisanal mining pit in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with local authorities reporting more than 200 fatalities. The disaster at the Rubaya coltan mine underscores the deadly human cost behind the global supply chain for electronics.
The collapse occurred Wednesday in North Kivu province, approximately 60 kilometers northwest of Goma. As of Friday evening, rescue efforts continued amid heavy rains, with the full scale of the tragedy still emerging. Provincial spokesperson Lumumba Kambere Muyisa confirmed to Reuters that victims included miners, children, and local market traders caught in the path of the slide.
"The ground is fragile during this season. It simply gave way while people were working," Muyisa stated, noting that about 20 seriously injured survivors were receiving treatment. An adviser to the rebel-appointed provincial governor, speaking anonymously, also placed the death toll above 200.
Franck Bolingo, an artisanal miner at Rubaya, described a scene of chaos to AFP. "The rain triggered the landslide. Some were buried alive; others are still trapped in the shafts," he said, voicing fears that many remain unaccounted for.
The Rubaya mine is a linchpin in the global coltan market, supplying an estimated 15% of the world's output. The mineral is refined into tantalum, a heat-resistant metal essential for smartphones, laptops, and aerospace components. Yet, the miners who extract it often work manually for mere dollars a day in notoriously hazardous conditions.
This tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of protracted conflict. The mine has been under the control of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group since 2024. The UN has repeatedly accused the group of plundering mineral resources to fund its insurgency—a charge Rwanda denies. The DRC's vast mineral wealth stands in stark contrast to the poverty of its people, with over 70% living on less than $2.15 a day.
Analysis: The Rubaya disaster is more than a tragic accident; it is a symptom of systemic failure. The lack of regulated safety standards in artisanal mines, compounded by the region's instability and the intense global demand for critical minerals, creates a recurrent cycle of danger. This event will likely intensify calls for greater supply chain transparency and accountability from multinational electronics firms.
Voices from the Community
"This is a heartbreaking but predictable outcome. We've been documenting the risks in these informal pits for years. Until the companies that buy these minerals and the governments that tolerate this chaos are held responsible, the blood will keep staining our handsets." — David Okoro, Regional Director for Mining Safety Watch, based in Nairobi.
"Our prayers are with the families. This mine feeds thousands of households. Yes, it's dangerous, but what is the alternative when there are no jobs? The world wants our coltan but turns a blind eye to our survival." — Marie-Louise Kabila, Community Advocate, Goma.
"Predictable? It's criminal negligence! The M23 rebels and their backers are running a brutal, profit-driven operation with zero regard for human life. The international community's 'concerns' are worthless. This is a massacre enabled by apathy and greed." — Jean-Paul Mbeki, Political Analyst and frequent critic of DRC's governance, speaking from Brussels.
"The immediate focus must be on recovery and aid. Long-term, this underscores the urgent need for formalizing the artisanal mining sector with proper safety protocols, regardless of who controls the territory. Stability and regulation are the only paths to prevention." — Sarah Chen, Supply Chain Ethics Consultant, Hong Kong.