At least six people have died after a mining shaft collapsed at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Witnesses say three women and three men were killed when the ground gave way on Tuesday at the site, located about 70 kilometres from Goma in North Kivu province. Others were seriously injured.
Rubaya is the country’s largest coltan mine and supplies between 15% and 30% of the world’s coltan — a mineral used in smartphones, laptops, and other electronics. Thousands of artisanal miners work there in risky conditions, often using only basic tools like shovels and rubber boots.
The mine has been under the control of the rebel group M23 since April 2024. The group reportedly earns about $800,000 per month by taxing coltan production.
This is the second deadly collapse at Rubaya in recent weeks. Last month, authorities feared up to 200 people were killed in a massive landslide at the same site. The area remains unstable as conflict continues in eastern DR Congo, where fighting has intensified in recent days.
Source: TRT Africa
