According to reports, more than 200 people have died and several others have been injured after a coltan mine collapsed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Publish dateSaturday 31 January 2026 - 16:38
Story Code : 345104
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - International Service: Local officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo told Reuters on Friday evening that the collapse of the Rubaya coltan mine occurred on Wednesday and that more than 200 people, including miners, women and children present in the market around the mine, have been killed in the accident.
Coltan is a rare metal that is the main ingredient in the production of tantalum. Tantalum is widely used in the manufacture of mobile phones, computers, space equipment and gas turbines due to its high resistance to heat and corrosion.
According to Reuters, some people were rescued in time and were seriously injured.
A local official, who did not want to be named, announced the confirmed number of victims at least 227.
He added that many locals are engaged in manual coltan mining in this mine, earning a meager wage of a few dollars a day.
The mine has been under the control of the March 23 Movement since 2024. The March 23 Movement is a paramilitary and rebel group active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been fighting in the east of the country since 2012.
The rebel group is made up of former Congolese army soldiers who were previously part of another armed movement (CNDP) and decided to rebel against the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo after the failure to implement the peace agreement signed on March 23, 2009. The name "March 23" is taken from that date.
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