Heavy rains trigger fatal landslide at one of the world’s most important coltan mining sites.
A massive landslide struck the Rubaya coltan mining site in North Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), at the end of January, killing more than 200 people and injuring dozens in one of the deadliest mining disasters in the country’s recent history.
Local authorities and rebel-appointed officials said the collapse occurred on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, during the region’s rainy season when heavy rain destabilized slopes around the mining area, causing several pits to cave in.
Devastating Human Toll
The official toll remains uncertain, but reports from North Kivu indicate that at least 227 individuals have been confirmed dead, with the possibility of more victims still unaccounted for amid strenuous rescue efforts.
Among the deceased were artisanal miners, children, women market vendors, and local residents who were present near the mining pits at the time of the disaster. Around 20 people were wounded and transported to health facilities in Rubaya and the provincial capital Goma, about 50 km away, for treatment.
Authorities have temporarily halted mining operations at the site and ordered the relocation of residents living too close to unstable pits.
Rubaya: A Strategic Yet Precarious Mining Hub
The Rubaya mines are a cluster of coltan extraction sites near the town of Rubaya, in the Masisi Territory of North Kivu. This region is rich in mineral resources and has long been a focal point of artisanal and small-scale mining activities.
Coltan — the ore from which tantalum is extracted — is a critical component in many modern technologies, including mobile phones, computers, aerospace components, and other electronic devices. The Rubaya site alone accounts for about 15 % of global coltan production, making it one of the world’s most important sources of the mineral.
Ongoing Conflict and Unsafe Mining Conditions
Security and governance challenges compound the humanitarian tragedy: the area including Rubaya has been under the control of the M23 rebel group since early 2024. The group was designated by the United Nations and Congolese authorities as exploiting mineral resources to help fund its operations, although external support claims remain contested.
Independent observers and local sources note that mining at the site is largely informal and artisanal, with tunnels and pits dug by hand and without formal safety protocols. Such conditions make the site particularly vulnerable to catastrophic failure during periods of heavy rainfall.
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