A devastating landslide at a coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 200 people, making it one of the deadliest mining disasters in the region in recent years. The incident occurred on Wednesday at the Rubaya coltan mine in North Kivu province, about 60 kilometers northwest of Goma

A devastating landslide at a coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 200 people, making it one of the deadliest mining disasters in the region in recent years. The incident occurred on Wednesday at the Rubaya coltan mine in North Kivu province, about 60 kilometers northwest of Goma.

According to Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of North Kivu, heavy rains triggered the landslide, causing the ground to give way and collapse several mining shafts where people were working and sheltering. Many of the victims were reportedly miners, children, and women.

Witnesses described chaotic rescue efforts as family members and neighbors scrambled to pull survivors from the mud and rubble. Some individuals were saved with serious injuries and taken to health facilities in Rubaya, with plans to transfer the most badly hurt to hospitals in Goma for further treatment.

Officials have not yet confirmed an exact death toll, but multiple local authorities say the figure exceeds 200. One unnamed provincial official told international media that at least 227 bodies have so far been confirmed, though the number could rise as rescue teams continue searching through collapsed tunnels and debris.

The Rubaya mine is a significant source of coltan, a mineral used to produce tantalum, a metal essential in the manufacturing of mobile phones, computers, aerospace components, and other high-tech devices. M23 rebels have been controlling the mine since May 2024 after seizing territory from the Congolese government

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Maporomoko ya udongo katika mgodi wa coltan mashariki mwa Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Kongo yameua watu zaidi ya 200, jambo linaloifanya kuwa moja ya maafa mabaya zaidi ya uchimbaji madini katika eneo hilo katika miaka ya hivi karibuni. Kundi la waasi wa M23 linasema shambulio hilo lilitokea Jumatano katika mgodi wa coltan wa Rubaya, Kivu Kaskazini, takikoni kilomita 60 kaskazini magharibi mwa Goma.

Msemaji wa kundi hilo, Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, alisema mvua kubwa ilisababisha maporomoko hayo, na kusababisha kuanguka kwa mashimo kadhaa ya uchimbaji madini ambapo watu walikuwa wanafanya kazi na kujificha. Wengi wa waliopoteza maisha ni wachimbaji, watoto na wanawake. Mashuhuda wamesifu jitihada za uokoaji kama za kusikitisha huku jamaa na majirani wakijitahidi kuwavuta waathirika kutoka kwenye matope na kifusi.

Baadhi ya watu waliookolewa wamepelekwa kwenye vituo vya afya Rubaya na wengine wamepelekwa Goma kwa matibabu zaidi. Maafisa bado hawajatangaza idadi rasmi ya vifo, lakini viongozi wa mitaa wanasema inapaswa kuzidi 200. Afisa mmoja wa mkoa alisema angalau miili 227 imethibitishwa hadi sasa, lakini idadi hiyo inaweza kuongezeka wakati wa uokoaji unaendelea.

Mgodi wa Rubaya ni chanzo kikubwa cha coltan, madini yanayotumika kuzalisha tantalum, chuma muhimu katika utengenezaji wa simu za mkononi, kompyuta na vifaa vingine vya teknolojia ya juu. Unatengeneza takribani asili 15% ya ugavi wa kimataifa wa coltan, lakini wachimbaji wa eneo hilo mara nyingi hufanya kazi bila hatua za kutosha za usalama na kwa mshahara mdogo wa kila siku.

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