At least 12 people were killed in a collapse at an artisanal coltan mine near Rubaya in North Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on Thursday, according to a mining source and a civil society representative.
Dozens more reportedly escaped the site following the collapse. The cause of the incident remains unclear.
Rubaya’s small-scale mines account for roughly one-sixth of the world’s coltan supply, a key component in electronics.
The area has been under the control of M23 rebels since mid-2024. Rebel officials told Reuters they impose a 15% tax on the mine’s coltan output.