Grace Barata

Grace Barata is a Congolese miner working in the mineral-rich Rubaya region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, an area known for its coltan mines and the poverty and dangerous working conditions faced by artisanal miners. Barata became newsworthy after surviving a mine collapse on January 29, 2026. The collapse, triggered by heavy rains, trapped dozens of miners underground. Barata was rescued alive after being trapped for 21 hours. The incident highlights the perilous conditions faced by miners in the region and the risks they take to earn a living. Barata's survival story, recounted to Al Jazeera, sheds light on the human cost of coltan mining and the desperation that drives people to work in such hazardous environments.