A devastating landslide triggered by heavy rains has killed over 200 people, including 70 children, at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The mine, controlled by the AFC/M23 rebel group, produces around 15% of the world’s coltan, a key component in electronics and aerospace industries.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, and many injured were evacuated to health facilities in Goma. The rebel group disputes the death toll, claiming only five or six people died.
The Rubaya mine has a history of accidents, with a similar disaster in late January killing over 200 people.
The site was recently added to a list of mining assets being offered to the United States under a minerals cooperation framework.
The Congolese government blames the rebel group for the tragedy, citing lack of safety measures, while the rebels attribute it to heavy rains.
