KINSHASA : Local officials reported that at least 227 people, including miners as well as women and children who were present at the site, lost their lives when the Rubaya mine gave way in an artisanal mining area. The incident occurred following days of intense rainfall that destabilised the soil, causing large sections of the mine to collapse.
Rescue teams managed to pull several injured survivors from the rubble and rushed them to nearby medical facilities for treatment. However, officials said the search for missing persons is continuing under difficult conditions.
The Rubaya mine is considered one of the world’s strategic coltan sites, accounting for around 15 per cent of global production of the mineral. Coltan is a critical raw material used in the manufacture of mobile phones, computers, aircraft components and gas turbines.
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Rescue operations in the region are being hampered by challenging terrain and security concerns, complicating access to the site and slowing search efforts as authorities continue to look for victims believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
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