Mass graves with 171 bodies found in eastern DR Congo: Report

More than 200 people died in a mine collapse on Wednesday in Rubaya, Democratic Republic of Congo. The mine, which is under rebel control in the North Kivu region, collapsed due to heavy rains. Victims included women, children, and artisanal miners who were mining coltan, a mineral used in electronics manufacturing. A former supervisor stated the mine was poorly maintained, contributing to the accident and hindering rescue efforts. The M23 rebels have controlled the mines since 2024 and are accused of taxing mining operations. Rubaya holds a significant portion of the world's coltan supply, making it a valuable but dangerous mining location.

A landslide at the Rubaya coltan mines in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Wednesday has resulted in at least 200 deaths. The mines, located in North Kivu province, are controlled by M23 rebels. According to a spokesman for the rebel-appointed governor, heavy rains caused the landslide, leading to the collapse of several mines. In addition to the fatalities, several people were injured and transported to local health facilities, with further transfers planned to Goma. The rebel-appointed governor has temporarily suspended artisanal mining at the site and ordered the relocation of nearby residents.

A mine collapse in Rubaya, eastern Congo, on Wednesday, caused by heavy rains, has killed at least 200 people. The Rubaya mines, a major coltan mining site, are controlled by the M23 rebels. The spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of North-Kivu province reported the incident on Saturday, noting that many bodies remain unrecovered. Several injured miners were taken to local health facilities, with more serious cases being transferred to Goma. The rebel-appointed governor has temporarily suspended artisanal mining at the site and ordered the relocation of nearby residents. The area is known for poorly constructed, hand-dug tunnels, and the M23 rebels have controlled the mines since May 2024, taxing coltan trade and transport.

More than 200 people are reported dead after a collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday, January 29, 2026. The mine, located northwest of Goma in North Kivu province, caved in due to fragile ground during the rainy season, trapping miners, children, and market women. While the exact number of casualties remains unclear, some injured individuals have been rescued and are receiving treatment. The mine is a significant source of coltan, a mineral used in electronics, raising concerns about mining conditions in the region.

A coltan mine collapse in Rubaya, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killed over 200 people on Wednesday. The mine, which produces approximately 15% of the world's coltan, a mineral crucial for electronics, is controlled by the M23 rebel group. According to officials, the victims included miners, children, and market women. The M23 rebels have controlled the mine since 2024 and the UN alleges they use the mine's resources to fund their insurgency. The M23 group, whose stated aim is to overthrow the government and protect the Congolese Tutsi minority, captured more mineral-rich territory last year.