Tragedy Strikes in Eastern DR Congo as Landslide Claims at Least 200 Lives in Militia-Occupied Mine
A devastating landslide has swept through a mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo's east, leaving a trail of destruction and death in its wake. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, followed by a second landslide just hours later, as authorities struggle to come to terms with the scale of the disaster.
The M23 rebel group, which seized control of the Rubaya mine in North Kivu province last April, has been accused of exploiting the region's rich mineral resources for their own gain. The mine, which produces a significant portion of the world's coltan, is believed to be generating substantial revenue for the militia.
According to reports from local scavengers, part of a hillside in the mining zone collapsed on Wednesday afternoon, while a second landslide struck just hours later. The exact number of fatalities remains uncertain, with officials estimating that at least 200 people have been killed.
The M23-appointed governor, Eraston Bahati Musanga, has confirmed the death toll, but details are scarce due to the mine's remote location and ongoing power outage in the area. Local authorities and civil society groups had fled the region when the militia arrived, exacerbating the difficulties in assessing the scale of the disaster.
Experts estimate that the M23 makes significant profits from the mine, with a tax of seven dollars per kilogram on coltan production and sales generating substantial revenue. However, this has come at a terrible cost to the local population.
The international community has been urged by Kinshasa to take note of the "tragedy" in the eastern region, which is attributed to "armed occupation and an organized system of looting" by the Rwanda-backed militia.
As one humanitarian source noted, information about the disaster is arriving sporadically, making it challenging to establish an accurate death toll. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of armed conflict on civilian populations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A devastating landslide has swept through a mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo's east, leaving a trail of destruction and death in its wake. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, followed by a second landslide just hours later, as authorities struggle to come to terms with the scale of the disaster.
The M23 rebel group, which seized control of the Rubaya mine in North Kivu province last April, has been accused of exploiting the region's rich mineral resources for their own gain. The mine, which produces a significant portion of the world's coltan, is believed to be generating substantial revenue for the militia.
According to reports from local scavengers, part of a hillside in the mining zone collapsed on Wednesday afternoon, while a second landslide struck just hours later. The exact number of fatalities remains uncertain, with officials estimating that at least 200 people have been killed.
The M23-appointed governor, Eraston Bahati Musanga, has confirmed the death toll, but details are scarce due to the mine's remote location and ongoing power outage in the area. Local authorities and civil society groups had fled the region when the militia arrived, exacerbating the difficulties in assessing the scale of the disaster.
Experts estimate that the M23 makes significant profits from the mine, with a tax of seven dollars per kilogram on coltan production and sales generating substantial revenue. However, this has come at a terrible cost to the local population.
The international community has been urged by Kinshasa to take note of the "tragedy" in the eastern region, which is attributed to "armed occupation and an organized system of looting" by the Rwanda-backed militia.
As one humanitarian source noted, information about the disaster is arriving sporadically, making it challenging to establish an accurate death toll. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of armed conflict on civilian populations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.