More than 200 people have died after a mine collapsed in Rubaya, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities aligned with rebels have confirmed.
Heavy rains caused the site to give way on Wednesday, trapping miners underground. At the time, the exact number of casualties was still unclear.
Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesman for the North Kivu region's rebel governor, said women and children were among those working at the coltan mine when it collapsed. Coltan is a valuable mineral used in electronics such as smartphones and computers.
A former supervisor of the mine, speaking to the BBC, said the site was poorly maintained, which increased the risk of accidents and complicated rescue efforts. He also highlighted that the fragile soil made conditions more dangerous.
Women, children, and artisanal miners—those not formally employed by mining companies—were among the victims. Around 20 survivors are receiving treatment in hospital.
A source whose cousin died in the landslide shared the shock and grief felt by families and the community. "I didn't believe he could pass away in such circumstances," the source said. Describing the relative as "courageous" and "ambitious," the source added, "His main goal was to provide for his wife and two children."
The source continued: "I didn't believe [he was dead] because investigations were still ongoing. His body wasn't found after the accident, so I did have hope that he could be found alive. Unfortunately, some hours later, his body was discovered."
Governor Erasto Bahati Musanga, appointed by the M23 rebels who seized territory in North Kivu, visited survivors on Friday. Rubaya is among several towns under M23 control, a group that international observers say receives backing from Rwanda.
The mines in Rubaya hold about 15% of the world’s coltan supply and nearly half of the DRC's reserves. The metallic ore contains tantalum, which is used to manufacture high-performance capacitors in a range of electronics, making it highly sought after worldwide.
When a BBC team visited the site in July 2025, they observed miners working manually under extremely dangerous conditions, with unstable pits scattered across the area.
Since 2024, the M23 rebels have controlled the mines. The United Nations has accused the group of imposing taxes on the mining sector to benefit themselves. The BBC has reached out to the Congolese government in Kinshasa for comment.
