At least 200 killed in coltan mine collapse in eastern DR Congo
At least 200 people were killed and dozens injured after a coltan mine collapsed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, international media reported.
According to Reuters, the incident occurred on Wednesday, March 4, following heavy rainfall in an area that has been under the control of the rebel group AFC/M23 since 2024.
Local officials said around 70 children were among the victims, and many of the wounded were transferred to medical centers in the city of Goma.
The Rubaya mine accounts for approximately 15% of global coltan production, making it a strategically important site in the international minerals market.
Coltan is processed into tantalum, a heat-resistant metal widely used in mobile phones, aerospace components and gas turbines.
The United Nations has previously warned that armed groups operating in the region finance their activities and purchase weapons through revenues generated from illegal mining operations.
The collapse comes just one month after another disaster at the same mine killed more than 200 people in late January, highlighting ongoing safety and security challenges in the conflict-affected region.
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