Massive Mining Disaster Kills Over 200 in Eastern DRC
A devastating coltan mine collapse in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed over 200 lives, with the death toll still rising as rescue efforts are underway. The Rubaya mine, which produces about 15% of the world's coltan, was under the control of rebel group M23 since 2024.
According to Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, a spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of North Kivu province where the mine is located, the collapse occurred on Wednesday and many victims were still trapped in the rubble. The cause of the disaster was attributed to heavy rains that caused a landslide, but experts have warned that the site's unstable conditions posed significant risks.
The local artisanal miners who dug for coltan at the site, earning just a few dollars a day, are among those affected by the tragedy. Several others were injured and taken to health facilities in Rubaya before being transferred to Goma, a city about 50 kilometers away.
In response to the disaster, the rebel-appointed governor has halted artisanal mining operations on the site and ordered the relocation of residents who had built shelters near the mine. The UN has previously accused M23 of plundering the region's riches to fund its insurgency, backed by Rwanda's government - a claim Kigali has consistently denied.
M23, whose stated aim is to overthrow the government in Kinshasa and ensure safety for the Congolese Tutsi minority, has made significant gains in eastern Congo in recent years. The group's lightning-fast advance has raised concerns about the security of the region.
A devastating coltan mine collapse in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed over 200 lives, with the death toll still rising as rescue efforts are underway. The Rubaya mine, which produces about 15% of the world's coltan, was under the control of rebel group M23 since 2024.
According to Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, a spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of North Kivu province where the mine is located, the collapse occurred on Wednesday and many victims were still trapped in the rubble. The cause of the disaster was attributed to heavy rains that caused a landslide, but experts have warned that the site's unstable conditions posed significant risks.
The local artisanal miners who dug for coltan at the site, earning just a few dollars a day, are among those affected by the tragedy. Several others were injured and taken to health facilities in Rubaya before being transferred to Goma, a city about 50 kilometers away.
In response to the disaster, the rebel-appointed governor has halted artisanal mining operations on the site and ordered the relocation of residents who had built shelters near the mine. The UN has previously accused M23 of plundering the region's riches to fund its insurgency, backed by Rwanda's government - a claim Kigali has consistently denied.
M23, whose stated aim is to overthrow the government in Kinshasa and ensure safety for the Congolese Tutsi minority, has made significant gains in eastern Congo in recent years. The group's lightning-fast advance has raised concerns about the security of the region.
cant believe those poor miners were just tryna make some cash and this happens to them... its not fair at all 
dont they get any help or protection? 
i heard its been a problem with the rebel group m23 too... how can u just plunder ppl for resources when theres ppl dyin in the mines? 
did Rwanda do anythin to stop this? 
remember that coltan mine disaster in the DRC? it was like a movie set, people digging for days just to get rich off minerals... and now over 200 people are gone because of one bad landslide... it's crazy how things never change, same risks, same tragedy... and M23 is still at it, causing chaos and destruction wherever they go 
And the fact that M23 was allowed to control the mine in the first place is concerning, should've been shut down a long time ago. 
It's not like we're talking about some obscure, remote location 
. The poor guys who lost their lives were just trying to make a living... coltan mining is super dangerous anyway. I hope everyone trapped in the rubble gets rescued ASAP 
. And honestly, M23 should've taken more responsibility for those artisanal miners... it's not like they're asking for much 
.
? Like, what's the point of all that suffering?! Those poor miners, risking their lives for pennies a day 
Like that's going to make a difference. The damage is done. People are already dead. All they're doing now is trying to cover up the whole thing.
. It's not like this disaster was an isolated incident or anything. It's a symptom of a much bigger problem with corruption and greed in the DRC.
this is so sad what kinda security measures are supposed to be in place at these mines? coltan mining already poses a huge risk but adding rebel groups into the mix makes it even more crazy 
and the fact that Rwanda is backing them doesn't help either - it's like we're watching a real-life drama unfold in africa 
can we expect better from our world leaders to take action and provide some kinda support for these innocent victims? 
my heart goes out to their families who are still dealing with this tragedy. i just wish the rebel group M23 would take responsibility for what happened, instead of trying to spin it as a natural disaster 
this is gonna be a disaster all around... first 200+ lives lost, now who's gonna be left to clean up the mess? and what's with M23 just doing whatever they want? plundering resources and now causing a mine collapse... these rebel groups think no one cares about anyone but themselves. and of course the UN is just gonna sit back and watch because Rwanda's backing them. 
and those miners are getting pennies for their labor, no wonder the conditions are so bad... shouldnt there be better safety measures in place? 
also, what about all those deaths? 200+ is just crazy... how can anyone live with that on their conscience?