Over 200 individuals lost their lives this week following a collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the governor appointed by rebels in the area. The information was shared with Reuters on Friday.

Rubaya contributes nearly 15% to global coltan production. This mineral is refined into tantalum, a heat-resistant metal critical for manufacturing smartphones, computers, aerospace equipment, and gas turbines. The mine, where locals manually excavate for minimal pay, has been under the control of the M23 rebel faction since 2024.

The incident took place on Wednesday, and as of Friday evening, exact casualty figures were still being confirmed.

“At this time, we know that over 200 people have died, with some still buried under the debris,” said Muyisa. He noted that several wounded individuals have been taken to three different medical centers in Rubaya, and ambulances are set to transport them to Goma, roughly 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the mining site, beginning Saturday.

The rebel-backed leadership in North Kivu has placed a temporary ban on local mining at the site and has ordered the removal of people who had set up makeshift homes nearby. Muyisa stated that intense rain was the cause of the collapse.

Another official advising the governor reported that at least 227 deaths had been verified, though he requested anonymity, as he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.

According to the United Nations, M23 has exploited Rubaya's mineral wealth to fund its military campaign, with alleged backing from neighboring Rwanda—a claim denied by the Rwandan government.

The well-armed rebel group, which claims its goal is to replace the Kinshasa government and protect the Congolese Tutsi population, captured significant portions of the mineral-rich region in eastern Congo following a swift offensive last year.