Over 200 killed in landslide at coltan mine in DR Congo

KABUL (Pajhwok): More than 200 people have been killed after a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall struck the Rubaya coltan mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, media reports said on Thursday.

The DRC’s Ministry of Mines said on Wednesday that about 70 children were among the victims. Those injured were evacuated to medical facilities in the city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, Al Jazeera reported.

The report said the incident occurred after heavy rains in recent days.

A similar accident occurred at the same mine in late January following intense rainfall, when more than 200 people were also killed.

The Rubaya mine produces about 15 percent of the world’s coltan. After processing, coltan is converted into tantalum, a metal widely used in several industries, including the production of mobile phones, computers, aerospace equipment and gas turbines.

hz/sa