Congo Rebels Confirm Over 200 Dead In Landslide At Coltan Mine Site; Christians Concerned

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

GOMA, DRC (Worthy News) – Rebel authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) confirmed Saturday that more than 200 people have died after a landslide collapsed several mines at a major coltan mining site in the troubled east of the war-torn African nation.

The collapse occurred on Wednesday at the Rubaya mines, an area controlled by the M23 rebel movement in North Kivu province, officials said.

Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of North Kivu, said heavy rains triggered the disaster.

“For now, there are more than 200 dead, some of whom are still in the mud and have not yet been recovered,” Muyisa said in remarks carried by The Associated Press.

Several others were injured and taken to three health facilities in the town of Rubaya, while ambulances were expected to transfer some wounded victims to Goma, the nearest major city about 50 kilometers (30 miles) away.

The rebel-appointed governor has temporarily halted artisanal mining at the site and ordered the relocation of residents who had built makeshift shelters near the mines, Muyisa said.

A former miner told The Associated Press news agency that landslides have occurred repeatedly in the area because tunnels are dug by hand, poorly constructed, and often left without maintenance.

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES AMONG THOSE AFFECTED

The disaster struck in a region where many families depend on informal mining to survive amid poverty and insecurity.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a predominantly Christian nation, and churches often play an important role in supporting communities facing tragedy, displacement, and violence in the east.

Civilians in the region, including many Christians, have also faced attacks by armed groups such as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which some governments have linked to the Islamic State group.

Eastern Congo has suffered years of unrest involving armed factions, leaving residents vulnerable to both conflict and deadly accidents tied to unsafe mining conditions.

Coltan, a mineral used in smartphones and other electronics, is among Congo’s most valuable resources, but mining in remote areas has frequently been associated with exploitation, dangerous working conditions, and recurring disasters.

Rescue efforts were continuing Saturday, though rebel officials warned the death toll could rise further as more bodies remained buried in mud and debris.

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