A landslide at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed at least 200 lives, including 70 children, according to the country’s mines ministry. The tragedy, triggered by days of heavy rain, occurred on March 3, 2026, marking the second major incident at the site in under two months.
Survivors were evacuated to medical facilities in Goma, though rescue efforts remain hampered by the mine’s remote location and ongoing instability. The AFC/M23 rebel group, which has controlled the area since 2024, has yet to comment on the disaster. The Rubaya mine was recently shortlisted by the Congolese government for inclusion in a U.S.-backed minerals cooperation framework aimed at securing critical tech supply chains.
Producing 15% of the world’s coltan—a mineral vital for manufacturing smartphones, computers, and aerospace components—the mine’s repeated disasters highlight both humanitarian risks and vulnerabilities in global tech production. This incident follows a similar landslide in late January 2026 that also killed over 200 people, raising urgent questions about safety and governance in conflict-ridden mining zones.
