By Desmond Nleya
Rubaya, DR Congo — The death toll from a devastating landslide at a major mining site in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to more than 200, government officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The collapse occurred on Tuesday at a shaft in the Rubaya coltan mining area, one of the largest coltan sites in the country. Witnesses initially reported at least six deaths when the mine shaft caved in, but authorities now say the number of casualties has increased dramatically as rescue efforts continue.
In a statement, the mining ministry said the provisional death toll exceeds 200 people, including around 70 children, with many others injured.
The Rubaya mining site is located about 70 kilometres west of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The region is currently under the control of the M23 rebel group, which the Congolese government and international observers say is backed by Rwanda.
The remoteness of the area has made it difficult to verify the exact number of victims. Humanitarian organisations and major health facilities have limited access to the zone, while telecommunications services are frequently disrupted.
Coltan, the mineral extracted at the site, is widely used in the manufacture of electronic devices such as smartphones and computers, making the region strategically important despite ongoing conflict.
Authorities say search and recovery operations are continuing, but the final death toll may rise as more victims are located beneath the collapsed earth.
