KINSHASA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people were killed in a landslide on Tuesday at the Rubaya mining site in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with others reported missing, according to sources close to the local administration.

"There was indeed a landslide following heavy rainfall on the mountain known as Kasasa. The earth swallowed many people. We are awaiting the official death toll," David Kasereka, an artisanal miner and resident of Rubaya, told Xinhua.

The Rubaya mines in North Kivu Province are a crucial global source of coltan and have been controlled by the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group since 2024.

The M23 has yet to comment on the tragedy.

In January 2026, at least 200 miners were killed after several shafts collapsed at coltan mining sites in Rubaya. Local media reported that the death toll may have exceeded 400, excluding those still missing.

Coltan, or columbite-tantalite, is the main source of tantalum, a rare metal used in the production of advanced electronic devices. The United Nations estimated that the Rubaya mines alone account for about 15 percent of the global tantalum supply. ■