Coltan mine collapse in eastern Congo leaves hundreds dead as toll climbs

More than 200 people were killed in a collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with the toll later reported at least 227 dead and about 20 injured as heavy rains made the ground unstable; the mine, producing roughly 15% of global coltan, has been controlled by AFC/M23 rebels since 2024, and the UN accuses them of looting Rubaya to fund their insurgency, a claim Kigali denies. Final casualty figures were still being confirmed on Friday.