What to know after a deadly landslide in eastern Congo kills at least 200 miners
DAKAR, Senegal -- A landslide last week collapsed several tunnels at a major coltan mine in eastern Congo, leaving at least 200 people dead in the rebel-controlled site.The collapse occurred on Wednesday at the Rubaya mines, controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, after heavy rains caused several hand-dug tunnels in the unregulated mine to cave in, according to the regional governor's spokesperson.The M23 rebels and the Congolese government traded accusations over responsibility as reports from the remote region began to emerge.The collapse is one of the deadliest disasters in years in an area already facing a humanitarian crisis and ongoing conflict.In May 2024, M23 seized the town of Rubaya and took control of its mines.Here's what to know about the collapse:On Wednesday, following heavy rains in eastern Congo, a network of hand-dug tunnels collapsed, killing at least 200 artisanal miners and trapping an unknown number who remain missing.
The mine, located around 25 miles (40 kilometers) to the west of the regional capital of Goma, has been under the control of Rwandan-backed M23 rebels since early 2024 and employs thousands of miners who operate largely by hand.Miners dig long tunnels, often parallel to one another, with limited support and no safe evacuation route in case of a collapse.A former miner at the site told The Associated Press that there have been repeated landslides because the tunnels are dug by hand, poorly constructed, and not maintained.“People dig everywhere, without control or safety measures.In a single pit, there can be as many as 500 miners, and because the tunnels run parallel, one collapse can affect many pits at once,” former miner Clovis Mafare said.
Congo’s government, in a statement on X, expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and accused the rebels of illegally and unsafely exploiting the region’s natural resources.An M23 spokesperson accused the government of politicizing a “tragic accident” and provided...