At Least 200 Feared Dead in DR Congo Landslide

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government has said it fears that at least 200 people may have died following a massive landslide at a militia-controlled mining site in the eastern part of the country.

The landslide occurred at the Rubaya mine in North Kivu province, an area currently under the control of the M23 armed group. The government described the incident as a major tragedy, expressing deep concern over the scale of the disaster. Efforts to verify the number of casualties have been hampered by poor communication, as phone networks in the area have been down for several days while survivors injured in the incident have been taken to nearby health centres, which are said to be operating with limited medical supplies and personnel. The international community has been urged to take note of the humanitarian and security implications of the disaster, as concerns continue to grow over safety conditions in conflict-driven mining zones across eastern Congo.

Written by Adeyemi Adewale