KINSHASA, June 20 (Xinhua) - More than 10 artisanal miners were killed in a mine collapse in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), local media reported on Friday.
The incident occurred on Thursday at a coltan mine in Rubaya, in eastern North Kivu Province, a region under the control of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group, according to local media reports.
At least 10 bodies have been recovered, with more feared buried under the debris, the reports said.
The Rubaya mining area, which holds one of the world's most significant coltan deposits, has been under M23 control since April 2024.
Coltan, or columbite-tantalite, is a critical mineral used in electronic devices, and the Rubaya mines alone are estimated by the United Nations to account for more than 15 percent of global tantalum supply.
The eastern DRC has long been plagued by armed conflict and illegal mining activities. Safety conditions in artisanal mining operations are often poor, leading to frequent accidents.
Tensions in the eastern DRC have escalated sharply in recent months, with the M23 group launching renewed offensives in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. ■