At least 200 people were killed after a major coltan mine in eastern Congo collapsed on Tuesday (March 3), Congolese authorities announced via the Associated Press, though the number was disputed by the M23 rebel group controlling the mine.
The incident took place at the Rubaya mines in the latest tragedy in the mineral-rich, rebel-controlled territories of the country. M23 official Fanny Kaj disputed the reported 200 person death toll, instead claiming only five people were killed and the collapse was caused by “bombings.”
“I can confirm that what people are publishing is not true. There was no landslide; there were bombings, and the death toll isn’t what people are saying. It’s simply about five people who died,” Kaj said via the Associated Press.
Ibrahim Taluseke, a miner at the site, however, claimed he was part of recovery efforts for more than 200 bodies from the area.
“We are afraid, but these are lives that are in danger,” he said. “The owners of the pits do not accept that the exact number of deaths be revealed.”
Rubaya is located in the heart of eastern Congo and has been ripped apart by violence from government forces and armed groups for decades. M23, a Rwanda-backed group, had a recent resurgence as the conflict worsened.
Congo accounts for 40% of the production of the black metallic ore coltan, which contains the rare metal tantalum, a key material used to make smartphones, computers and aircraft engines.
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